Washington, D.C. (October 6, 2008) -- Time Warner subscribers today in 11 markets are missing some of their favorite local SD and HD channels due to a contract dispute with broadcaster LIN TV.
By law, a TV provider can not carry a local station's signal without the permission of the station. On Friday, Time Warner's carriage contract for 15 LIN TV stations in the 11 markets expired.
The two companies have been involved in negotiations since Friday for a new deal, but the continuing dispute caused football fans in Green Bay, Indianapolis and Buffalo to lose their games on cable on Sunday.
LIN TV is demanding greater compensation for the right to carry the local stations while Time Warner is charging the fees are too high. Similar contract disputes between local stations and TV providers have led to some cable operators losing local signals for months, if not years.
The 11 markets affected by the Time Warner/LIN TV contract fight are: Green Bay, Indianapolis, Buffalo, Austin, Columbus, Ohio, Dayton, Ohio, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Mobile, Alabama, Springfield, Massachusetts, Terre Haute, Indiana and Toledo, Ohio.
A Time Warner Cable spokesman says the cable operator has given away roughly 50,000 antennas to allow subscribers to watch LIN TV signals over the air until an agreement is reached.
By law, a TV provider can not carry a local station's signal without the permission of the station. On Friday, Time Warner's carriage contract for 15 LIN TV stations in the 11 markets expired.
The two companies have been involved in negotiations since Friday for a new deal, but the continuing dispute caused football fans in Green Bay, Indianapolis and Buffalo to lose their games on cable on Sunday.
LIN TV is demanding greater compensation for the right to carry the local stations while Time Warner is charging the fees are too high. Similar contract disputes between local stations and TV providers have led to some cable operators losing local signals for months, if not years.
The 11 markets affected by the Time Warner/LIN TV contract fight are: Green Bay, Indianapolis, Buffalo, Austin, Columbus, Ohio, Dayton, Ohio, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Mobile, Alabama, Springfield, Massachusetts, Terre Haute, Indiana and Toledo, Ohio.
A Time Warner Cable spokesman says the cable operator has given away roughly 50,000 antennas to allow subscribers to watch LIN TV signals over the air until an agreement is reached.
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