Cox Cable subscribers in Baton Rouge awoke on New Year’s Day to find that WAFB and the CBS-affiliate shows it broadcasts were no longer available on their TV lineup. That’s because Cox and WAFB’s parent company, Raycom Media, did not reach a programming agreement before an end-of-year deadline. Negotiations between the two are ongoing, and WAFB General Manager Sandy Breland says she hopes an agreement will be reached soon. “We can certainly understand the frustration” that Cox customers are expressing, she says. “We’re frustrated, too. We are hoping for a quick resolution to this. We want to be on Cox.” Under the Cable TV Act of 1992, cable and satellite TV systems are required to negotiate agreements with TV stations to carry their programming. Raycom Media has been unable to reach agreements with Cox in several other markets across the United States. Cox has issued a statement to Daily Report saying: “Raycom Media is withholding their programming from Cox customers because Cox won’t give them a price increase that’s more than 200% higher than what we already pay them for programming that is available for free over-the-air.” Cox says it has been negotiating with Raycom since October. In the meantime, Breland says, Baton Rouge customers can still see WAFB newscasts on Cox Cable Channel 9, as that programming is included under a separate agreement. CBS programming can also still be viewed on the WAFB website, which has a complete rundown of viewing options for Cox customers here. —Steve Sanoski
Editor’s note: This story has been changed since its original publication.
