CBS Television Going Dark… Thanks Charter!

3D TV Static

In about a week’s time, Charter Communication will no longer be carrying the Saint Louis CBS affiliate KMOV television signal. I stumbled across this tidbit of fairly relevant information just today as EngadgetHD had an article about the new HDTV channels arriving shortly.

So a possible upside to this would be no longer being subjected to the daily Guiding Light obsession that my wife has had for the last 20 years… However, WE are big fans of How I Met Your Mother, The Big Bang Theory, Gary Unmarried, Flashpoint, and Rules of Engagement… Well – you get the idea. (I suppose grabbing downloaded episodes after they air might work in a pinch but very annoying and very specific…)

Having already been annoyed with Charter over not carrying the HD lineup for CBS, not carrying the entire channel is just ridiculous. Our family spends a good deal of money with phone service, HD and digital cable along with 16Mbs broadband… With rumors of Charter running low on cash – what options are there? Being that their HQ is just a few blocks from our house – there’s been little incentive for other options to present themselves… (I’m not going to say monopoly… but maybe I’ll hint at it…)

So KMOV has their side of the story… But I’ve yet to find any information on Charter’s side of the story… A quick search of Google will give you plenty of links to other newsworthy information…

“For more than two years, KMOV has been trying to reach an agreement with Charter Cable to have KMOV’s signal available to Charter cable customers,” KMOV leaders said in a written statement. “We have made offers, Charter has not responded. We want Channel 4 on Charter, but effective Dec. 31st, Charter will no longer carry KMOV.

Feel like letting off a bit of steam about your favorite shows? Give Charter a call…

Charter Communications offices: 314-965-0555
Charter Customer Service: 1-888-GET CHARTER (1-888-438-2427)
Charter E-mail: [email protected]

Just as I was actually getting to like Charter after years of crappy customer support, technical support and dodgy quality, I have to wonder if other broadcast channels are going to be going static…

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  1. Perhaps the other side of the coin for Charter… A recent comment from “megarock” on dslreports.com…

    First start by going right over Belo’s head to the CBS Network. Their advertising revenue will be affected by the loss of viewers who will no longer be able to see their St. Louis affiliate because of Belo’s demands to have cable and satellite operators pay for a television signal that we get for free with an antenna.

    CBS Television Network
    51 West 52nd Street
    New York, NY 10019

    Main Number:
    (212) 975-4321 CBS News
    555 West 57th Street
    New York, NY 10019

    Main Number:
    (212) 975-4114

    You should also blast off a letter right to KMOV and ask them why anyone – cable, satellite or otherwise – should be paying for a television signal that can be received for free and that generates it’s income by showing advertising. The more ads get watched the more money is generated therefore it would seem in their best interests to get that signal out to as many people as possible.

    KMOV and Belo are making it sound like Charter is removing the signal. Sadly it’s the opposite – KMOV is forcing Charter to not broadcast their signal. Charter wants it, we want it but the greed at Belo will stop it. If you lose your KMOV it’s Belo’s fault and no one elses.

    Oh, and if you’d like to take your beef directly to Belo here’s their info as well:

    Belo Interactive Media
    900 Jackson Street
    Suite 400
    Dallas, TX 75202
    (214) 977-4000

  2. Yes, Robert was going to call and complain but then read this, so who knows. We don’t really watch any of those shows (In fact, I HATE those shows!!!) but it is crappy nonetheless. Robert and I bit the bullet and got an HDTV this weekend, so we shall see how this works out with Charter. I already feel like we are paying WAY too much for their services.

  3. A follow up for today… It looks like we’re all going to come out being happy… KMOV and Charter have announcement that they’ve been able to figure out a way to play nicely together…

    KMOV’s parent company Belo Corp. has reached a tentative agreement with Charter Communications regarding carrying KMOV’s signal on their cable systems.

    That means that KMOV and CBS programming should continue to be carried on Charter without any interruption of service well into the future. KMOV and Charter both appreciate your patience through this period of negotiation.

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