Comcast Removing Detroit and Lansing Channels

[smallwonder]

Starting October 23, Comcast in Flint will no longer carry the Detroit or Lansing out of market stations. This includes 2, 7, 23 and 50.

[80sTalkRadioFan]

Hopefully that means their subscribers will at least see a slight reduction in their bills. Wondering what made them decide to make this change after all these years. Were any of these stations sometimes blocked, due to the FCC's "Network Non-Duplication and Syndicated Exclusivity" rules?

[km1125]

The only reduction would be in the add-on line for "broadcast TV fee". Would be interesting to see how much that would change.

[HD74]

"Hopefully that means their subscribers will at least see a slight reduction in their bills"

Ain't never gonna happen!
This short sighted crap by the cable conglomerates is why "cord cutting" has become so prevalent.

[cs15]

And I will still be getting 2, 4, 7, 20, 56 & 62 with my antenna.

[rugratsonline]

Were any of these stations sometimes blocked, due to the FCC's "Network Non-Duplication and Syndicated Exclusivity" rules?

Definitely not 23, which is affiliated with PBS. No doubt WKAR won't be pleased with Comcast's actions, as it means less pledges.

[km1125]

Rethinking my comment about the "broadcast TV fee", it would be interesting for anyone in the affected areas to compare the "before" and "after" on their bills

[ftballfan]

Were any of these stations sometimes blocked, due to the FCC's "Network Non-Duplication and Syndicated Exclusivity" rules?

Definitely not 23, which is affiliated with PBS. No doubt WKAR won't be pleased with Comcast's actions, as it means less pledges.

I don't think the FCC rules apply to noncommercial stations (PBS members and religious stations). However, Comcast gave WCMU the heave-ho when WCMZ was shut down as they apparently thought Mt. Pleasant is in the Traverse City TV market (WCMU's tower is in Mecosta County, which is in the Traverse City market).

I can think of a few other examples of PBS members getting dropped off cable systems:
WTVS dropped from Comcast Lansing/East Lansing (2000s?)
WTTW dropped from Charter Kalamazoo (2009; with TTW's carriage, WXMI used to be on cable 17 in Kalamazoo)
WMVS dropped from then-Bresnan Ludington (late 1990s)

[innate-in-you]

Wow.

Will Flint (where WFUM was sold off in the spectrum auction) be cut off from PBS entirely?

Is any PBS reliably available in flint?

Is there any available channel for a PBS translator?
Maybe 8?

[fuzzpower]

WDCQ is still around.

[ftballfan]

WDCQ is still around.

Charter Spectrum in Davison carries WCMU, WKAR, and WTVS (as well as WDIV and WXYZ), but doesn't carry WDCQ. Charter in Fenton carries four PBS members (WCMU, WDCQ, WKAR, WTVS). Due to Comcast being cheap, they will only have WDCQ for PBS in Flint as of next month. I wonder if Comcast will pull WGTE from the Detroit-area systems that carry it as well. I think U-verse and the dishes carry WCMU in Flint.

[fuzzpower]

Fenton straddles the Detroit and Flint markets, depending on where exactly you are.

[rugratsonline]

Due to Comcast being cheap, they will only have WDCQ for PBS in Flint as of next month.

I believe in the Sandusky area, the Comcast system doesn't carry any PBS outlet at all since the closure of WCMZ, as they made no effort to import local market station WTVS, or WDCQ, which has some roots in the Thumb.

[ftballfan]

Due to Comcast being cheap, they will only have WDCQ for PBS in Flint as of next month.

I believe in the Sandusky area, the Comcast system doesn't carry any PBS outlet at all since the closure of WCMZ, as they made no effort to import local market station WTVS, or WDCQ, which has some roots in the Thumb.

Comcast Sandusky is a joke of a lineup (only about 40 channels). The only good thing about it is their grandfathered carriage of 5, 12, and 25 from Flint/Saginaw.

[rugratsonline]

Comcast Sandusky is a joke of a lineup (only about 40 channels). The only good thing about it is their grandfathered carriage of 5, 12, and 25 from Flint/Saginaw.

And let me guess -- it's all standard def only. With no phone or internet offered.

Amazing that a cable system is stuck in the 1980s, while advancements and choices grew by leaps and bounds.