As a local Fargo Direct TV subscriber, I was only mildly amused by the actions of local CBS affiliate KXJB. They have decided to force a new contract down the throats of the viewers and Direct TV by playing hardball with infated prices which, according to a local know it all, is a rise of 12.4% over their previous contract. Only a year or so ago the actions by the same ownership to play hardball with their local NBC affiliate led to Direct TV’s ultimate winning a new contract to the consumer’s liking. This time, although the action may be the same, the climate is different, and KXJB should expect the backlash it will get if it continues on this avenue of destruction.
In these days of HD, most of us have the option of watching the local feed regardless of their heavy-handed dealings either by the antenna or the HD feed. The amount of channels beyond this one is easily an issue as well; we don’t all need to see CSI when there are so many alternatives. Finally, the fact that the sister NBC channel is owned by the same affiliate and provides the same local reporting merely emphasizes the fact that KXJB is trying to fight a losing battle.
To the loss of that channel I can only say, “Good riddance." Although I will mourn the loss of Craig on late nights, I surely will not be crying as I can still watch all of your local programming on channel 11.
KXJB insists that the solution to the problem is to discontinue service from DirectTV. I find it interesting that now KVLY may be pulled off some cable providers. http://www.valleynewslive.tv/info/csi_cable.shtml What next? If we want CBS or NBC programming, we are held prisoners to one local affiliate.
Let me check to make sure I fully understand this:
The local T.V. Stations want to charge the satellite and cable providers more money for distributing broadcasts that could be received at no cost to local consumers via antennas.
Growing up in the badlands of western ND our television service was greatly limited. When we finally did get a satellite provider, we had to pay a considerable amount extra to receive the local channels. After a while the cost of the channels seemed to become higher than the programming value we were receiving, so we dropped them. If other cable and satellite customers also dropped their local coverage like we did, the Local T.V. stations would be broadcasting to a smaller and smaller audience.
Now I’m not an economics major, but I think it is safe to say that a smaller audience will make the station in question much less appealing to potential advertisers. Without any commercial interests, I think the owners just as well start warming up the phone lines because they are going to need a pledge drive to keep operating.
Just Thoughts.