The Hearst/DirecTV negotiations: Got an update?

[Poledo]

According to the linked WBAL article, Time Warner will continue to carry ABC/CBS/NBC/Fox network programing even if they have to drop the Sinclair owned stations? I've never heard of anything like that before. Can anyone elaborate on how this will work? Black out the stations except during prime time or replace them with the NYC feeds?

 

[Tri-State Media]

To be clear: TWC can't technically bring in local news from other markets. And TV contracts generally provide for exclusivity.

By the way, it sounds as if Raycom has sent papers to DirecTV to get signed that would keep that group available on the bird for the next 3-4 years... see http://www.fox19.com/global/story.asp?s=13659842 (or any Raycom station's website).

 

[vchimpanzee]

I read the NC Sinclair stations got a reprieve. So we'll see what happens in two weeks.

Meanwhile, I get them OTA anyway because the cable company doesn't have them in the first place!

 

[Poledo]

Sinclair's WEAR in Pensacola (ABC) stopped talking about this on New Years Eve, so I assume they worked things out. I'm still want to know how TWC planned to continue carrying network programming if Sinclair had pulled their stations. I didn't know this could be done and I don't believe it has ever been done by another cable operator before. I tried to Google it but found nothing... perhaps I used the wrong search terms.

I have experienced a 2-3 week cable outage of a Sinclair owned ABC and NBC before. We got no network programming. WBAL's article said this would not affect network programming... so it appears Sinclair never had any ammo for this fight.

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

Sinclair's WEAR in Pensacola (ABC) stopped talking about this on New Years Eve, so I assume they worked things out.

Sinclair and TWC agreed to a two week extension for all the stations.

I'm still want to know how TWC planned to continue carrying network programming if Sinclair had pulled their stations.

I don't think it was ever clear exactly how TWC planned it, but it'd probably be a combination of network feeds on occasional (local) channels, and importing out of market network affiliates TWC believes it has the right to import.

Of course, the operators feel differently, in the case of blackouts in some other markets (Utica, etc.), where this has already been done.

 

[Tri-State Media]

I don't think it was ever clear exactly how TWC planned it, but it'd probably be a combination of network feeds on occasional (local) channels, and importing out of market network affiliates TWC believes it has the right to import.

Of course, the operators feel differently, in the case of blackouts in some other markets (Utica, etc.), where this has already been done.

It wouldn't surprise me if this is still implemented one week from today if a new agreement isn't reached.

Speaking of agreements not being reached, DirecTV and Raycom still have no agreement per WXIX 19-Newport/Cincinnati. DirecTV rejected the terms proposed.

Not surprising, considering that DirecTV maintains that the agreement the two sides had been working under automatically rolled over...

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

I am hearing that if the Sinclair extension doesn't result in a deal, TWC will put the live network feeds on the channel normally occupied by the blacked out station.

Not sure what they will do outside network hours...perhaps put up an electronic slide explaining the situation.

 

[Tri-State Media]

I am hearing that if the Sinclair extension doesn't result in a deal, TWC will put the live network feeds on the channel normally occupied by the blacked out station.

Not sure what they will do outside network hours...perhaps put up an electronic slide explaining the situation.

Also would not surprise me. They'd likely take each network's feed from a network O&O, such as WNBC (NBC, NYC), KCBS (CBS, L.A.), WLS (ABC, Chicago), or WNYW (Fox, NYC).

 

[fybush]

I have no reason to believe TWC would do anything other than what usually happens on a channel that's blacked out by a carriage dispute: a nonstop loop of "Roll Over or Get Tough" house ads, or failing that, a full-screen message explaining the blackout. Assuming TWC is being straight about having reached deals "directly with the networks" for their prime-time programming, the nets don't have the rights to grant TWC carriage of syndicated programming outside of the markets where they pay for that programming, so it seems unlikely to me that we'd get a straight WNYW (or whatever) feed up here...assuming, of course, that it comes to that at all.

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

I'm wondering if the "network deals" branch out of the Primetime On Demand channel that TWC recently added. Maybe it's a side deal as a result of that...after all, the Primetime On Demand content is directly from the networks involved, with no intervention from the local affiliate.

But I do tend to agree with Scott...the local syndie program rights would generally prevent TWC from importing even the Fox O&Os 24/7. Though I wonder how they were getting away with importing WBRE into Utica, or whatever those stations were...

 

[Tri-State Media]

I'm wondering if the "network deals" branch out of the Primetime On Demand channel that TWC recently added. Maybe it's a side deal as a result of that...after all, the Primetime On Demand content is directly from the networks involved, with no intervention from the local affiliate.

But I do tend to agree with Scott...the local syndie program rights would generally prevent TWC from importing even the Fox O&Os 24/7. Though I wonder how they were getting away with importing WBRE into Utica, or whatever those stations were...

That syndicated programs would be fed through those means is not what I meant to imply at all... just that that's where the network programs would be fed in from. Sorry for the confusion...