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Mediacom disappoints sports fans(The Pantagraph (Bloomington, IL) (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Jan. 6--BLOOMINGTON -- Pete Kagy may have to switch cable providers, squint at the snowy reception from an antenna or go to a friend's house, but he won't miss his beloved Chicago Bears in the NFL playoffs on Fox. Jake Traskell, another football fan, will live without Fox programming out of principle. Traskell and Kagy are among thousands of Central Illinois TV viewers expected to lose Fox 43 programming today. Barring an 11th-hour deal after the Pantagraph went to press, station owner Sinclair Broadcast Group planned to pull the channel from Mediacom's cable lineup at midnight. Sinclair wanted more money for the right to carry the station. "Because the channel is broadcast for free, I'm having a hard time understanding why (Sinclair) would charge Mediacom or anybody else for it," said Traskell, of rural Downs. "One way or the other, the charge would get passed on down to us ... I'll just go without Fox, I guess." The loss does not affect TV viewers in Bloomington-Normal, which is served by Insight Communications. Mediacom serves the small towns and unincorporated areas surrounding Bloomington-Normal, Peoria and much of Central Illinois. The cable provider cannot pickup another Fox affiliate. Sinclair originally planned to pull the channel from Mediacom's lineup Dec. 1 but extended the deadline to Friday. The NFL playoffs start today. The national college football championship game is Monday. The season premiere of the popular Fox drama "24" is Jan. 14, and the opening of the new season of "American Idol" is Jan. 16. There is a slight chance Mediacom can keep Fox, however. In denying an unfair-bargaining complaint from Mediacom on Thursday, the Federal Communication Commission's media bureau recommended the two companies negotiate in arbitration. The FCC cannot force arbitration, but Mediacom Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rocco Commisso on Friday extended the arbitration request to Sinclair, which hadn't responded Friday afternoon. Sinclair Vice President and General Counsel Barry Faber did not return calls from the Pantagraph, but in a statement, hailed the FCC rejection of Mediacom's complaint. Customers mull satellite TV If Sinclair denies arbitration, Mediacom customers can switch to satellite service or buy rabbit ears to watch Fox 43. DirecTV spokeswoman Caley Cronin said the company has seen an increase in customers throughout Sinclair markets. So far, however, some Mediacom subscribers continue to hang on to hope. Kagy, of rural Bloomington, would like to avoid the hassle of switching cable and Internet providers. "I had dish and the only reason I switched it is because I needed Internet and Mediacom had it," he said. "I'll probably switch everything." Scott Tuggle, owner of Kick's Bar & Grill in Towanda, is weighing his options to determine the most cost-effective plan. "We had more concerns about (losing) NASCAR than anything," he said. "Hopefully we'll have something ready early next week." Jon Kemp, owner of Kemp's Upper Tap in Lexington, isn't worried about losing Fox for the NFL playoffs either. He's closed on Sundays. When the baseball season resumes, however, Kemp doesn't want to lose Fox, which broadcasts Saturday baseball games. "We watch a lot of baseball games," Kemp said. "If (Mediacom and Sinclair) don't sign a contract, I'll eventually switch (to satellite TV)." Copyright (c) 2007, The Pantagraph, Bloomington, Ill. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |