| Author
|
Post |
 
|
|
Steve Myers
Site Admin
|
The view is blue - as in a blue screen, not a TV picture - as Comcast Cablevision began blocking Detroit Fox affiliate WJBK (Channel 2) this weekend.
FCC rules allow a local affiliate, in this case Flint's WSMH (Channel 66), to petition for such a blackout. This is the second blackout of a Detroit affiliate this year.
Officials from both stations and the cable system could not be reached for comment Saturday, though a Comcast customer service representative said a Saturday internal memo confirmed the blackout, which affects mostly network programs, not local ones.
A man who answered WSMH's news line Saturday expressed surprise that the blackout had begun, saying it wasn't expected until early next year.
Some of Comcast's 92,000 area subscribers might call it a blueout, since the station's signal has been replaced by a blue screen bearing the message: "Pursuant to FCC rules, the program currently airing at this time must be deleted by this cable system. This program is available on another channel. Please check your interactive guide, TV Guide channel, or local listings for program schedules."
While Federal Communications Commission rules allow for deleting programs carried by both stations - mostly network and some syndicated shows - Comcast blocked WJBK's showings Saturday of an afternoon movie, "Loch Ness," a "Stargate SG-1" syndicated repeat and other programs, while WSMH aired a college football game, an infomercial and "Soul Train."
Clio-based NBC affiliate WEYI (Channel 25) successfully petitioned the FCC to block its Detroit counterpart, WDIV (Channel 4), resulting in a blackout of most of the Detroit station's programs in January.
Station management said at the time that the move was made to decrease competition between the stations for viewers and advertisers.
Flint's cable situation is unusual. Most cities don't have more than one network affiliate, but Comcast traditionally carried multiple affiliates because of the city's proximity to Detroit.
Charter Communications, whose coverage area includes Fenton and Davison, does not carry Detroit stations, although it does offer them in Shiawassee County markets.
The WSMH move means that only ABC and PBS are represented by more than one affiliate on Comcast's Genesee County system.
Comcast carries Flint ABC affiliate WJRT (Channel 12) and Detroit's WXYZ (Channel 7), plus Flint PBS WFUM (Channel 2 , East Lansing's WKAR (Channel 21) and Bay City's WDCQ (Channel 19).
WJRT executives previously told The Flint Journal that the station was looking into the possibility of petitioning to have its Detroit counterpart bumped from Comcast's lineup.
It's not clear if Comcast will replace the stations with other programming. A blue screen still occupies WDIV's spot on the dial, except when news and other local programs air.
Full Story:
http://www.mlive.com/news/fljournal/index.ssf?/base/news-33/11318898148010.xml&coll=5 |
|
|
Sun Nov 13, 2005 3:42 pm |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Register
Profile
FlintTalk.com Forum Index
> Open chat
