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While Bills fans are rightfully ecstatic over their 4-0 start, their enthusiasm may be tempered a bit this weekend. Most of the viewers in the Buffalo area will not have access to the Bills game on their television Sunday - not that the owners of sports bars in the area will be complaining.
Apparently the CBS affiliate in Buffalo has been trying to reach an agreement with Time-Warner, the area's largest cable company, regarding a contract to carry their programming. After months of failed negotiations, the CBS station has pulled the plug.
WIVB-TV News4 Buffalo, NY |October 3rd Letter to Time Warner Cable Subscribers
WIVB off Time Warner - Business First of Buffalo:
Apparently the CBS affiliate in Buffalo has been trying to reach an agreement with Time-Warner, the area's largest cable company, regarding a contract to carry their programming. After months of failed negotiations, the CBS station has pulled the plug.
Dear Time Warner Cable subscriber,
Time Warner's contract to carry WIVB-TV and WNLO-TV on its cable system has expired, and Time Warner no longer has the right to carry our programming.
Please know that we have tried for several months to reach an agreement, so that our viewers would not have to miss any of our around-the-clock reporting of news, politics, traffic, weather emergencies, and public service announcements.
We are disappointed in the outcome of our negotiations with Time Warner, especially since we have successfully reached deals with every major cable, satellite and telecommunications company who recognize our fair market value. Without fair and equitable treatment, local TV stations will not be able to continue to provide top quality news, sports, entertainment, and other local programming that is most important to you.
We will continue to negotiate with Time Warner. Unfortunately, we do not know if, or when, we will reach an agreement.
WIVB-TV News4 Buffalo, NY |October 3rd Letter to Time Warner Cable Subscribers
Time Warner has 330,000 subscribers in the immediate Buffalo Niagara region and is in approximately 70 percent of all local households. That means instead of such popular shows as NFL football games, the various “CSI” shows and WIVB’s top-rated local newscasts, viewers on Channel 4 Friday morning were greeted by CBS College Sports Network and those watching WNLO saw “HBO Family” programming instead of the CW network shows.
WIVB off Time Warner - Business First of Buffalo: