Negotiations break down; Mediacom drops KOMU from lineup

Local Mediacom subscribers lost programming from KOMU 8 and Mid-Missouri's CW channel early Tuesday after contract negotiations broke down and the cable service dropped the channels from its lineup.

By News Tribune

Originally published January 4, 2011 at 5:43 a.m., updated January 4, 2011 at 9:31 a.m.

Early Tuesday, Mediacom dropped KOMU 8 and Mid-Missouri’s CW channel from its lineup in Jefferson City, Holts Summit and Columbia.

The TV station reported that the disconnect occurred due to a breakdown in negotiations between the New York-based cable provider and KOMU, the local NBC affiliate.

“KOMU appreciates our loyal viewers,” KOMU General Manager Marty Siddall stated in a news release. “I want them to know that we have been strongly committed to reaching a fair, reasonable agreement with Mediacom. Although our good faith efforts have been rebuffed thus far, we will continue to seek an acceptable agreement.”

Mediacom claims in a message posted on the former KOMU channel that the cable company "believes taxpayer-supported KOMU's demands are excessive, which is why we're working to ensure our customers get a good value."

Mediacom refers twice in its statement to "taxpayer-supported" KOMU, a reference to the station's ownership by the University of Missouri. However, KOMU notes that its revenues come from advertising and retransmission fees and that no tax dollars are used to run its commercial station.

Mediacom's action dropping KOMU from its service does not affect Mid-Missouri viewers who receive the channel by antenna or through other cable and satellite providers like Dish Network, DirecTV or CenturyLink.

Last Friday, Dec. 31, KOMU and Mediacom agreed to terms for the first year of a three-year contract extension, according to the TV station's news release. On Monday, negotiations on years two and three of the contract stalled. In response, KOMU offered Mediacom a one-year contract based on the terms agreed to last Friday, but Mediacom rejected that offer.

“We were assured the terms negotiated on December 31 would set the stage for successful negotiations of years two and three of a contract," said Siddall. "Unfortunately, Mediacom’s negotiating position since then has been contrary to the spirit of terms agreed to last week."

However, Mediacom's message to its customers state the company's efforts to negotiate "a reasonable agreement with taxpayer-owned KOMU resulted in KOMU's decision to remove their signal from our system."

Mediacom Digital customers can receive certain NBC shows like "The Office" by using the digital service's On Demand service. The company also noted that subscribers can "stream live sports like the NHL and Sunday Night Football by using high-speed Internet."

Mediacom's message also reported that customers who do not subscribe to the digital level of service can visit the company's office "for a free NBC On Demand box."

Meanwhile, KOMU reported it is listing alternatives for viewing its programming at KOMU.com/freeTV, or by calling KOMU at 573-882-8888.

Some NBC network programs are also available for viewing via the Internet at www.nbc.com or at www.hulu.com.

More like this story

two_cents_worth 2 years, 4 months ago

Mediacom has contracts with these cities to provide cable service to their residents...how can there not be a provision in the contracts mandating Mediacom to air local stations?

I'm thinkin' J.C. & Columbia (and H.S.) dropped the ball on requiring Mediacom to provide services to their residents.

I think Mediacom underestimates the importance of local stations to their line-up. Since they're no longer a local company, it doesn't surprise me. A word of advice to Mediacom:

Don't bite the hand that feeds you!

online_editor 2 years, 4 months ago

Municipalities do not have that authority. It's governed by federal communications law and the FCC. Every three years, a local broadcast station can elect "must carry" status, meaning the cable company is required to carry it, but only if the station chooses not to receive any compensation. If the station chooses "retransmission consent" status, then the two parties have to agree to a contract before the cable company can carry the station. If they don't come to terms, the cable system can't carry the station. --Rick Brown, online editor, News Tribune

online_editor 2 years, 4 months ago

We'll add Mediacom's reaction as it becomes available, just as we reported their side of the story last Friday at that stage of the stalemate. If similar situations with other TV systems in the past serve as any indication, we won't be surprised if both sides maintain a business interest in keeping many of the specifics of the negotiations under wraps. Oh, btw, KOMU said nothing in their statement or on their website about Hulu or NBC.com as possible (legal) substitute sources for some of their network programming. That's something we knew on our own to add for our readers' benefit. Perhaps users of those sites can elaborate in this forum about what's available over there. --Rick Brown, online editor, News Tribune

online_editor 2 years, 4 months ago

Story has been updated with Mediacom's message to its customers.

brent 2 years, 4 months ago

Mediacom has become a sad joke,why we dropped them and went to Centurylink more channels and much much better service if you have a problem and oh yeah we still have KOMU

nunyabidness 2 years, 4 months ago

Razor I'd go to centurylink.com and enter your address to make sure you're eligible for the service. The site will be able to tell you how much per month based on your selections. I switched from Mediacom and it was cheaper for me...and I still have KOMU to watch 30 Rock on Thursday nights ;). I could swear the picture quality is better too.

gofish 2 years, 4 months ago

Satelite here I come. So sick of Mediacom.

techfan 2 years, 4 months ago

I have a somewhat different opinion about this mess of broadcast stations expecting compensation for inclusion of their signals in cable, dish, or whatever media. Their signals are distributed free of charge to anyone who are able to get them with an antenna. I don't understand why they expect service providers to pay them for something that is otherwise free. Mediacom, Dish, and Direct TV are doing the local stations (and their advertisers) a service by including their signals in their media packages. By doing so, the stations' signals are being made available to more people in more locations than otherwise would be the case. In addition, for many viewers, they are of higher quality. Many people in Columbia cannot receive KRCG over the air and many people in JC cannot get a good KOMU signal.

Is there any additional expense to local broadcast stations to simply allow their signals to be rebroadcast over cable?

JMO 2 years, 4 months ago

I don't care for Mediacom, and Dish tried to bait and switch us, so I guess we'll start looking again for a different carrier. My whole family is upset, not at the loss of KOMU, but of CW. The only tv show we watch as a family comes on that station!

JCLifer 2 years, 4 months ago

How much lower will the Mediacom bills be for not having KOMU? Probably half of my TV watching is KOMU, so I expect Mediacom to reduce its monthly bills by 50% until they restore KOMU programming.

malmark 2 years, 4 months ago

@techfan I believe Mediacom makes a profit from redistributing the signals on their network, why shouldn't KOMU and the like be compensated for providing their broadcast material? Furthermore it looks like Mediacom has been happy to compensate them up to now with non-cash benefits, it is not a question of whether they should be compensated or not. They just don't want to part with their cash. By the way, I have to dig Mediacom for trying to smear KOMU and the like for being 'taxpayer funded stations'. Mediacom you suck.

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