Two local stations are back on the air after months of bitter negotiations with providers.
WTXL ABC 27’s parent company, E.W. Scripps Company, has reached an agreement with Comcast, and WTXL is back on Xfinity for subscribers today, according to a brief news article on that station’s website May 5.
“We appreciate your patience and look forward to serving viewers once again on the Xfinity service,” it said.
Scripps and Comcast have been at odds over contract negotiations, which prompted the temporary suspension of some local channels, including WTXL, to no longer be available to Tallahassee cable TV viewers.
In a March 31 email, Xfinity customers learned about the contract with the broadcasting company expired and a new agreement couldn’t be reached. It went on to say “unexpected changes to your channel lineup can be frustrating” and Scripps refused “our reasonable offers and is making demands that would significantly increase what you pay for TV service.”
The email said if a new agreement could be reached, the channels would be restored. CBS-affiliate WCTV was also locked in a contract war with Gray Media that prevented the station from being viewed on DISH. On May 1, WCTV posted an article saying an agreement had been to restore all Gray-owned local television stations to the DISH lineup, including WCTV, effective immediately.
“DISH customers can once again watch local news, weather, and sports from WCTV, as well as The Young and the Restless and Jeopardy,” the article said. “Gray Media and WCTV remain committed to serving the Big Bend and South Georgia with reliable news, important weather updates to help you plan your day, and high-quality local programming.”
Contact Economic Development Reporter TaMaryn Waters at tlwaters@tallahassee.com and follow @TaMarynWaters on X.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: WTXL, WCTV are back on local cable, satellite TV
Reporting by TaMaryn Waters, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
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