Friday, October 3, 2008

No CBS affiliate in Buffalo - for now

Posted by Craig on 10/03/2008
This is a bit different than what I usually write about, but it is related to the media, and it's a pretty big deal where I'm from, so I figured I'd throw something up about it.

I'm not certain why this happened. I'm not an expert, nor do I claim to be in this case, but the main cable provider in Western New York, Time Warner, as I write this, does not currently have a CBS affiliate on the air. The contract expired yesterday and a new one has not been reached.

It could not have come at a worse time for people in Buffalo. Our 4-0 Buffalo Bills are playing at Arizona this Sunday - their final game before the BYE week - and CBS was supposed to carry that game. So, theoretically, tens of thousands of Western New Yorkers could be blacked out of the game if a deal is not reached.

It makes this blog for one other reason, something tied much closer to what I usually write about. That CBS affiliate is using its Web site, WIVB.com, to get its messages across. It has content up for its viewers, on the negotiations and what's going on, including a video, and of course it continues to update based on news in the area. The news continues, despite the blackout, and its most loyal viewers are now going online. What a great use of the site. Hopefully the situation gets resolved soon.

0 comments on "No CBS affiliate in Buffalo - for now"

 

Media Watch Copyright 2009 Reflection Designed by Ipiet Templates Image by Tadpole's Notez