Marketplace Today Blog

With the expiration of the retransmission agreement between LIN TV, owner of WLUK-TV (channel 11) in Green Bay, and Time Warner Cable, Time Warner customers are no longer seeing WLUK.

“We are disappointed in the outcome of our negotiations with Time Warner, especially since we have successfully reached deals with every major cable, satellite and telecommunications company who recognize our fair market value,” said a statement to Time Warner customers on LIN TV’s Web site. “Without fair and equitable treatment, local TV stations will not be able to continue to provide top quality news, sports, entertainment, and other local programming that is most important to you.”

“WLUK and its parent company LIN TV are asking for money — and lots of it,” counters TelltheTruthWLUK, a Web site created by Time Warner Cable. “They want to charge Time Warner Cable customers across the United States in order for you to see your programming. To make up for lower ratings and advertising revenue, broadcast stations are demanding millions of dollars for permission to carry their channels; fees that will fall, ultimately, to you.”

Unless an agreement is reached by Saturday, the Packers’ game against Atlanta Sunday won’t be seen by most Time Warner customers. Fox is scheduled to carry seven more Packers games this season — at Seattle Oct. 12, at Tennessee Nov. 2, at Minnesota Nov. 9, Chicago Nov. 16, Carolina Nov. 30, at Jacksonville Dec. 14, and Detroit Dec. 28, although the Carolina, Jacksonville and Detroit games could be moved to NBC under NBC’s flexible scheduling arrangement with the National Football League. CBS is carrying the Indianapolis game Oct. 19 and the Houston game Dec. 7 (the Houston game also could move to NBC), and ESPN is carrying games at New Orleans Nov. 24 and at Chicago Dec. 22.

Fox also will be carrying the baseball playoffs, including the National League Championship Series and World Series, starting Oct. 9.

Some Time Warner customers get WITI-TV (channel 6), Milwaukee’s Fox affiliate. WITI is not affected by the WLUK negotiations.

FoxCitiesTV.com has a guide on how to receive Fox programming for Time Warner customers.