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Post by David on Sept 25, 2015 11:49:05 GMT -6
Since the original thread on this subject is now locked, I've created a new one. KPNZ, the Estrella TV affiliate in Salt Lake City, has now been dropped from Comcast's channel line-up. (KPNZ had been channel 8 on Comcast locally.) The station was one of three Estrella affiliates blacked out by Comcast in February 2015 over a carriage dispute which was centered around upgrading the Estrella affiliates from must-carry to retransmission-consent status, which would result in license fees and full distribution in the DMAs.
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Post by CAwasinNJ on Sept 25, 2015 22:41:12 GMT -6
It just seems crazy to me that Estrella would have elected retransmission consent over must carry. Did they think they had enough leverage to get Comcast to fork over money for them? I wouldn't think so. Maybe somebody screwed up in the election process? Cable's default is opposite from DTH satellite for some bizarre reason, so that could be it. I don't know.
According to The Consumerist, Comcast did offer to continue to carry the channel under the previous agreement but the owner refused. (http://consumerist.com/2015/02/11/contract-fight-between-comcast-estrella-tv-highlights-another-reason-why-the-mega-merger-matters/)
Personal opinion coming: I think the whole paying to rebroadcast what the station gives away for free thing has gotten out of control. I've always thought it was a terrible idea, but at least at the beginning it was often used as a tool to get a new channel on the cable system. No money actually changed hands, a new network got launched and everyone made money. (That's how ESPN2 was launched for example.) That's not the case anymore. Cable bills are spiraling out of control and people are getting fed up with it. I get all the TV I need directly from the broadcast stations without paying them any money at all and it works just fine. That won't work for everyone, especially if you're a sports nut, but I don't have to pay through the nose either.
Did Comcrap say if there was going to be a new service on channel 8?
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Post by David on Sept 27, 2015 10:22:43 GMT -6
"Comcrap" . . . I love it! That's good, CA, very good.
I have no idea what Comcast might put in place of KPNZ on channel 8, or even if they plan on replacing it. About twice a year Comcast rearranges its channel line-up and then sends a new program guide with the following month's bill. About a month ago, they re-aligned approximately a dozen channels such as MeTV, Cozi, Movies! and ThisTV from the 100 series channels to 300 series channels, and so far nothing has replaced those vacant slots. I keep hoping that Comcast will replace one of their vacant channels with Buzzr, but for right now I'm still waiting.
I know that cable has been criticized for never-ending rate increases, but I haven't had a rate increase of more than 2 or 3 bucks per month for my digital starter package each year for the past three years. I'm sure Comcast would like me to sign up for a bundle package and add home phone and internet service, but that's not going to happen right now. I have Netzero DSL for internet which only costs $27.00/month for unlimited access and is adequate for my present needs. I've had local phone service through Century Link for what seems like forever, and the only time I've had to call for service the technician actually showed up a day earlier than he was scheduled to. That was after the great wind storm of December 2011, when my neighbor's tree fell on the phone cable for my home and it had to be replaced. Besides, I've crunched the numbers and discovered that I wouldn't save very much by bundling vs. my current arrangement.
Unfortunately the area where I live is like a black hole for over the air TV reception, so my options are pretty limited. I refuse to switch to Dish or DirectTV until they quit blacking out channels over fee disputes, because thus far I haven't been affected by channel blackouts with Comcast. It may not be a perfect service, but it works well for me.
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Post by CAwasinNJ on Sept 27, 2015 23:18:50 GMT -6
I can't take credit for "Comcrap". That's been around a while.
Since all of the channels (as far as I know) are delivered digitally now, there's no particular bandwidth reason to specifically replace something on channel 8, other than relative numbers and positioning. Somebody could request it I guess.
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Post by egnlsn on Sept 28, 2015 6:57:43 GMT -6
The first I noticed them (their HD feed) off the lineup was at the time of the KSL dispute with DirecTV. Since there was text on the screen and OTA was good, I figured it was carriage dispute. With Telemundo and Univision having been around here for some time, I can't believe Estrella though they had enough clout to force the issue. Should've stayed with must-carry.
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