WKTV Off The Air For Many

Deerfield, NY (WIBX) - As of midnight last night, WKTV went off the air for more than half its viewers. Time Warner Cable decided to end their retransmission agreement with the station after more than 4 years of fee negotiations.

Smith Media, LLC is the company that owns WKTV and its Vice President and Group Manager, Vic Vetters said it became clear that Time Warner Cable simply refuses to pay the fair market price to continue their contract and even expressed shock TWC no longer sees value in what he calls "Utica's only local news programming."

He said, "We first presented Time Warner Cable with an offer for a new long-term agreement on August 11, 2010. For four years, we negotiated with Time Warner Cable, and over that time it became apparent that Time Warner Cable refuses to pay a fair value for our programming." Vetter went onto say in the released statement that "Apparently, Time Warner Cable believes that Syracuse news is good enough for its Utica customers."

The station's programming will remain available for viewers with an over the air antenna. A call to Vetters was not returned by the time this report was published however, WIBX will have more information as they become available.

Filed Under: no agreement, off the air, oneida county, time warner, utica ny, wktv

Categories: Utica-Rome News