Suddenlink, LIN TV reach retrans deal, restore KXAN & KBIM
By Richard Lawler 
posted March 26th 2008 3:50AM
posted March 26th 2008 3:50AM
New Years Day was a sad one for cable customers served by Suddenlink and LIN TV, when their previous retransmission consent agreement expired, KXAN-TV (NBC) in Austin and KBIM-TV (CBS) in Albuquerque went dark. Three months later, they've come to terms and restored the channels to 30,000 affected customers. No word on what it took, but LIN TV claims all subscription services have to recognize "fair market value" of its stations. (Warning: PDF read link.)
KBIM must be another Austin channel. LIN does own CBS KRQE in Albuquerque though. Which does not have aggreements for their HD channel for CBS on Directv or Comcast cable. They do have deals with Dish Network, and Cable One here.
LIN TV, "fair market value" is higher than what other local TV companies definition of "fair market value". That is why TWC Austin doesn't carry KNVA in HD. LIN TV, owner of KNVA, the local CW affiliate, can't seem to come to terms with TWC Austin.
That combined with Belo Corp's KVUE converting the ABC 720p feed to 1080i for broadcast is ridiculous.
LIN TV owns WDTN in Dayton, OH and no pay provider has access to WDTN's digital feed (NBC HD).