Press-Republican

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July 12, 2012

Time Warner Cable suspends WPTZ and two sister channels

PLATTSBURGH — Due to an impasse over carrying fees, Time Warner Cable has stopped carrying three Hearst Television channels.

The channels impacted are 5 (WPTZ), 863 (WPTZ-HD) and 854 (THIS-TV). 

The current carriage agreement expired at midnight June 30, but to avoid a potential disruption of service and inconvenience to subscribers during the Fourth of July week, Hearst Television granted Time Warner Cable an extension, while negotiations continued, until midnight on July 9.

WPTZ President and General Manager Paul Sands said Time Warner Cable has terminated negotiations with Hearst Television for continued carriage of WPTZ.

“Hearst has successfully concluded more than 150 carriage agreements in recent months with other cable companies with no disruption of service to subscribers,” he said in a press release. “This contrasts with Time Warner’s disruptions of service and withdrawal of carriage of local television stations in other cases.”

Time Warner Cable issued a legal notice on July 4 that the agreement was one of many that could lead to a disruption of service.

Sands said WPTZ has not blacked out its signal, which can still be received for free over the air or through satellite providers.

“We regret the inconvenience Time Warner Cable has imposed on its subscribers, and we will keep you fully informed of developments,” he said.

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