Comcrap and WXYZ / WMYD are at an impasse

[km1125]

I think the whole thing is childish and stupid. Xfinity is horrible imo.

Wondering why you're putting all the blame on Comcast/Xfinity?

Perhaps WXYZ is making unreasonable demands? If customers can get it for FREE via over-the-air, then why should they be paying MORE just because they receive it via their Comcast/Xfinity service?? You KNOW that the cost will be passed on to the consumers, so why should ALL Comcast/Xfinity customers be "taxed" for carrying these channels especially if they're not ever watching them and don't value them at all?

[GS3580]

I think the whole thing is childish and stupid. Xfinity is horrible imo.

Wondering why you're putting all the blame on Comcast/Xfinity?

Perhaps WXYZ is making unreasonable demands? If customers can get it for FREE via over-the-air, then why should they be paying MORE just because they receive it via their Comcast/Xfinity service?? You KNOW that the cost will be passed on to the consumers, so why should ALL Comcast/Xfinity customers be "taxed" for carrying these channels especially if they're not ever watching them and don't value them at all?

There are many who watch Ch 7, including myself. Not to mention, ABC carries many sports outlets. How bad will all of this look if the Pistons do indeed make the NBA finals and we can’t see them locally, all because of a dispute between Xfinity and Scripps? Xfinity had pulled this crap before, when the Big Ten Network was unavailable for weeks.

Sadly, this is what’s leading others away from cable and into the streaming services. Xfinity already charges ridiculous rates. It’s greed at its worst.

[km1125]

I think the whole thing is childish and stupid. Xfinity is horrible imo.

Wondering why you're putting all the blame on Comcast/Xfinity?

Perhaps WXYZ is making unreasonable demands? If customers can get it for FREE via over-the-air, then why should they be paying MORE just because they receive it via their Comcast/Xfinity service?? You KNOW that the cost will be passed on to the consumers, so why should ALL Comcast/Xfinity customers be "taxed" for carrying these channels especially if they're not ever watching them and don't value them at all?

There are many who watch Ch 7, including myself. Not to mention, ABC carries many sports outlets. How bad will all of this look if the Pistons do indeed make the NBA finals and we can’t see them locally, all because of a dispute between Xfinity and Scripps? Xfinity had pulled this crap before, when the Big Ten Network was unavailable for weeks.

Sadly, this is what’s leading others away from cable and into the streaming services. Xfinity already charges ridiculous rates. It’s greed at its worst.

Again, why are you just pinning this on Comcast/Xfinity? I might be that what Scripps is asking for is reasonable, or it might not at all. I don't know the details on what's driving the dispute. Do you?

If anyone can pick up an unencrypted broadcast signal and view the content, why can't Comcast/Xfinity pick up that **same** signal and just distribute it to people in the same geographic area without having **any** obligation to Scripps? Why should Scripps be allowed to impose **any** requirements?

[SD45]

Well at least I saw the weather updates OTA this afternoon.

[billmich88888]

I agree with KM

[CometGSR]

As Tyler The Antenna Man says.. "Don't pay for something that you can get for free from an antenna".

[hb2]

At least with WXYZ's local newscasts, they do have streaming apps online and on most smart devices/roku/etc. so some who don't use an antenna can get their local news via that medium, just not the ABC national programming.

I checked on a friends Xfinity cable in Troy since I have antenna at my place and the Scripps hub blackout is still ongoing.

[GS3580]

Xfinity is so pathetic! They already charge high rates and now they claim to be blacking out 7 and 20 to lower costs? So silly.

[MWmetalhead]

They have no choice but to "black out" WXYZ and WMYD.

Scripps is trying to raise retransmission consent fees, which the cable company (in this case, Comcast) directly passes on to its customers.

I am unsure of the Detroit market, but in the Grand Rapids market, retransmission consent fees paid to Nexstar, Sinclair, Tegna and Scripps by Comcast add up to $51.00 per month, per subscriber.

TV broadcasters are having increasing difficulty selling advertising for their increasingly mediocre programming, so they try to cover the difference by extorting money from cable & satellite companies who then have little choice but to pass through those costs to their customers. It's a stupid strategy because all it does is lead to increased cord cutting, which puts the broadcast TV station owners back to square one. If those defectors were replacing that cable TV viewing with (mostly) OTA viewing, that would be one thing, but that isn't what happens in most cases. Instead, cable TV defectors go to video on demand or live video streaming services (e.g. Netflix, Prime Video, Paramount+, Peacock, YouTube TV, etc.).

[km1125]

They have no choice but to "black out" WXYZ and WMYD.

Scripps is trying to raise retransmission consent fees, which the cable company (in this case, Comcast) directly passes on to its customers.

I am unsure of the Detroit market, but in the Grand Rapids market, retransmission consent fees paid to Nexstar, Sinclair, Tegna and Scripps by Comcast add up to $51.00 per month, per subscriber.

TV broadcasters are having increasing difficulty selling advertising for their increasingly mediocre programming, so they try to cover the difference by extorting money from cable & satellite companies who then have little choice but to pass through those costs to their customers. It's a stupid strategy because all it does is lead to increased cord cutting, which puts the broadcast TV station owners back to square one. If those defectors were replacing that cable TV viewing with (mostly) OTA viewing, that would be one thing, but that isn't what happens in most cases. Instead, cable TV defectors go to video on demand or live video streaming services (e.g. Netflix, Prime Video, Paramount+, Peacock, YouTube TV, etc.).

OUCH!! Do they articulate those separately on the monthly bill? (if not, they should!)

Yes, it does sound like those OTA sources are pretty much shooting themselves in the foot by adding on exorbitant fees. I'd bet their carriage results in a wider distribution too in many cases, so maybe they should actually be the ones paying!

[MWmetalhead]

OUCH!! Do they articulate those separately on the monthly bill? (if not, they should!)

I agree! They certainly should itemize those by TV station owner. They do not, unfortunately.

I obtained that information from my parents earlier this month; I asked to see their cable bill. They were complaining about the exorbitant price they pay, understandably.

[tommatinmichigan]

Any updated? same in GR market here!

[imbadboy]

Comcast promised me a $30 credit for the inconvenience. My latest bill did not show the credit. Called them today and after jumping through many hoops I got them to send me and email confirming the credit. Thet also tried to upsell me on my service. I cancelled my TV package and only have wifi and phone now. I switched to Youtube TV. All the channels I watch and $40 a month cheaper.

[MWmetalhead]

Very wise choice!

[drop the puck]

Good move on getting rid of Comcrap. I had them out here in Hillsdale when I moved only because they were the only game in town if you wanted fast internet and cable. I was paying over $250 a month when I finally said enough is enough. Fiber optic cable with 1 gig speed from a local internet company instead of 400mb from Comcast, along with YouTube TV, phone and Frndly TV, I am paying almost $80 a month less. So far so good. We'll see how it goes a year from now.