The rate disagreement between local cable provider Cable One and Turner Broadcasting continues with no end in sight.
The two companies are at a stalemate over financial negotiations and each is pointing a finger at the other. Because of the tiff, Cable One subscribers have lost nine channels: TNT, TBS, CNN, CNN en Espanol, Boomerang, Cartoon Network, HLN, truTV and TCM.
Contacted Thursday afternoon, a Turner Network spokesperson said the company has worked “diligently” to reach an agreement.
“Despite our best efforts, we were unable to reach an agreement with Cable One for our portfolio of leading networks,” Rachelle Savoia, director of communications for Turner Broadcasting, said.
Turner wants Cable One to pay “the established and accepted rates” for its portfolio of channels. Cable One has declined.
Savoia would not say what the rate is.
Cable One did not respond to messages seeking comment. A link on their website directs customers to stopprogramminghikes.com/turner and explains the loss of channels. On that website, Cable One says Turner is demanding an increase of nearly 50 percent “for channels with steadily declining ratings.”
“Despite the fact that we have a signed contract to continue carrying TBS, TNT, and the Cartoon Network, Turner has chosen to punish our customers by deauthorizing the signals for these channels so that you will no longer receive them,” Cable one states on the website. “We believe that they have deauthorized these channels in retaliation for us dropping their less popular programming.”
Savoia said Cable One does not have the right to show the channels.
Until an agreement is reached, Cable One has added new channels to their lineup including the Hallmark Channel, the Science Channel and the Game Show network.
Cable One customers will see an automatic reduced rate on their bill, the website explains.
In addition to the Cable One and Turner Network debate, local CBS affiliate WCBI was locked in negations with DISH network over financial matters. That issue was resolved last Friday.
Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.
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