Mere hours before stations in five states, including Alabama, were slated to disappear from cable provider Cox Communications, a deal was reached to continue programming under a new retransmission agreement.
As we reported last month, the removal of those stations threatened two stations within the South TV News area, Mobile, Ala.-Pensacola, Fla., FOX affiliate WALA-TV and CW affiliate WFNA-TV.
Broadcasting & Cable reports the agreement will ensure the nine television stations owned by LIN Television Corporation will continue on Cox lineups in Rhode Island, Virginia, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Alabama.
The other stations affected are as follows, from the article:
LIN stations in Central Connecticut (ABC, MyNetwork TV affiliates WTNH and WCTX); Springfield, Mass. (NBC affiliate WWLP); Hampton Roads, Va. (NBC and Fox affiliates WAVY and WVBT); and Providence. R.I., (CBS and Fox affiliates WPRI and WNAC) all said they had reached agreements with the cable company.
Terms of the agreement have not been disclosed, and it’s not common practice for that to become public knowledge.
B&C reports Cox and LIN TV negotiated a deal last year as well, suggesting rates may have gone up in the new arrangement.