Mediacom Customers Lose LIN Stations

UPDATE: As of Thurs morning, LIN signals were still not available on Mediacom. A spokesperson for the MSO said the two parties are continuing to negotiate and that a decision on possible replacement programming has not yet been made. 

The threat of the FCC’s NPRM (Notice of Proposed Rule Making), a declaration of intent to review the rules governing retrans consent negotiations, did not prevent LIN stations from going dark in Mediacom systems Wed. The LIN stations were removed from Mediacom at 5pm local time in each affected market. The only LIN stations still carried by Mediacom are WVBT and WAVY in the Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News, VA, market, where an extension was granted until Sept 7 because of Hurricane Irene. Stations in Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek; Green Bay-Appleton; Ft. Wayne; Lafayette; Mobile-Pensacola; and Terre Haute are impacted. Stations include ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and CW affiliates. LIN Media’s website includes an update and explanation for subscribers. Mediacom posted its own take.