Retrans

Retrans consent battles have become a real thorn in cable’s side, an appropriate analogy for the current impasse between Time Warner Cable and McKinnon Broadcasting station KBMT in Beaumont, TX. If a deal can’t be reached by Wed at midnight, the ABC affil’s signal will be yanked, preventing the MSO’s area subs from watching the Rose Bowl without an antenna. "Negotiations are ongoing and we’re trying to reach a deal that makes sense for our customers," said a Time Warner Cable spokesperson. Also, the broadcaster will reportedly begin Thurs broadcasting NBC content in the market as well. — Meanwhile, Nexstar said more than a dozen regional cable ops may be forced to remove Thurs the signals of a local NBC and CBS affil serving PA areas near Wilkes-Barre, citing retrans disagreements. — Cable One reached an agreement with Meredith -owned KPHO, a CBS affil out of Phoenix that was threatening to pull its signal Thurs.