By Bill Zeeble, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-878202.mp3
Dallas, TX –
Time-Warner Cable says Fox is lying when it says channels 4 and 27 could disappear from cable by the New Year if there's no new fee agreement. Time Warner says big football games and Fox comedies will still be on cable. KERA's Bill Zeeble explains.
Fox's audio message: For several months KDFW Fox 4 has attempted to negotiate in good faith with Time Warner Cable and we're simply asking for fair compensation for the value that Fox 4 programming offers. While negotiations are ongoing, it's possible Time Warner may no longer carry Fox after December 31st
Fair compensation to Fox means about a dollar per subscriber from Time Warner, according to reports. Those same stories say Time-Warner considers 20 to 30 cents a subscriber more like it. But Gary Underwood, Time-Warner Cable Vice President in Dallas, says whatever the national debate, Fox's local channels 4 and 27 will stay on Time-Warner Cable. He says it's because of a federal law.
Gary Underwood: The message that Fox is telling their viewers and our customers is misleading and a lie. They're going to be on our lineup tomorrow. The local Fox is different than the agreement we're working with , their parent company on , for the Fox cable properties. The local Fox missed a filing deadline and by law we're required to carry that station on what's called a must carry basis.' We have to have them on our lineup.
Unaffected by these negotiations are cable channels Fox News, Business, and Fox Movies. But these are Fox cable channels that could be affected: Fox Reality, Fox Soccer, Fox Sports en Espa ol and Fox Sports Southwest. While Underwood reiterates North Texas is immune from this national deabte, many other cities - including Austin - are not. Both Fox and Time Warner are under intense pressure from the FCC to reach an agreement.