David Parker subscribes to a satellite dish company for his television service but for now he is unable to watch his favorite NBC programs because of a squabble between his satellite provider and a north Texas television station.
With the Super Bowl coming up, Parker wants them to either settle their differences or give him another NBC station to watch. But there is no guarantee that will happen.
KTEN, an NBC affiliate in Sherman, Texas, and the Dish Network have been unable to reach an agreement that would give the satellite dish company permission to transmit the station’s signal. Television stations across the nation that air ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX programming had until Dec. 31 to finalize agreements with cable operators and satellite providers to allow them to continue to “retransmit” their signals for another three years without a service interruption.
Although federal rules do not guarantee television stations any compensation, broadcasters have the right to negotiate with cable companies and satellite providers for the use of their signals.
Television broadcasters argue that cable companies and satellite providers should pay for the right to retransmit their telecasts. Cable and satellite operators contend they shouldn’t have to pay for free, over-the-air broadcasts. And when they cannot reach an agreement, subscribers like Parker suffer.
“Although the deadline has passed and KTEN has been removed from Dish’s channel lineup, we stand ready and willing to negotiate with Dish to come to a fair agreement and return KTEN to the Dish Network channel line-up as quickly as possible,” says a posting on KTEN’s Web site.
Of course, customers with high-quality indoor or rooftop antennas may be able to get KTEN over the air free of charge. But Parker said he lives too far away from Sherman to get a decent signal. In the meantime, he wants KTEN and the Dish Network to give him another option.
“I’m asking KTEN to give the Dish Network permission to grant me a waiver to receive NBC programming from another city,” he said. “I’ve applied for a waiver through Dish Network. I won’t receive an answer; Dish Network will.”
Parker said he isn’t sure what will happen.
“No one (at KTEN) will talk to me and tell me they will grant me a waiver,” he said. “I’ve heard that other people have been turned down.”
Parker said he is more than willing to pay the Dish Network extra to receive NBC programming from somewhere else. But without KTEN’s cooperation, he said, he may have to leave the comfort of his recliner to watch the big game.
The Ardmoreite staff left messages for the KTEN general manager and a corporate communications employee at the Dish Network but has yet to receive a response them.
Steve Biehn, 221-6546
steve.biehn@ardmoreite.com
