What is the deal with local CBS HD in Grand Rapids, Michigan?

**GNASH** · 12-24-2008 03:12 PM

Originally Posted by billybgame

Any updates on this ridiculousness from other Grand Rapids area people? Are we going to get through the NFL playoffs and into the college basketball tourney, next year, and still not have CBS in HD?

What the hell is the problem? I have an idea it's the local affiliate, but I'm not positive. I sent them an email, to no avail.

Below is the text of an e-mail that I just received today, but they seem to be very vague about what the hold up is.

Geoff--

------------------------------------------

We are in negotiations with Dish at the present time. This is an ongoing process. There is no resolutin as of yet.

Sincerely,

Program Coordinator

NEWSCHANNEL 3/CW7
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**HobbyTalk** · 12-24-2008 09:30 PM

My understanding is that Freedom wants Dish to also carry CW7 if they want to WWMT in HD.

**GRExpert** · 01-06-2009 12:29 PM

Sure would be nice to get this. I can't get a reliable signal from OTA. It drops in and out all the time. Hopefully this happens by March Madness

**wkomorow** · 01-06-2009 12:49 PM

WWMT is owned by freedom corporation. Last time I received an email from them, they told me that only a handful of people have complained about no-HD. It is NOT your local station that can make this happen - it is negotiations at a corporate level - between freedom and dish. Freedom:

Freedom Communications
17666 Fitch,
Irvine, Ca., 92614-6022

Our telephone number is
949-253-2300

Our main fax number is
949-474-7675

Email address
info@link.freedom.com

And they are called freedom for a reason:

Freedom Communications, Inc. - Preserving Liberty

**GNASH** · 01-12-2009 10:49 PM

Originally Posted by wkomorow

WWMT is owned by freedom corporation. Last time I received an email from them, they told me that only a handful of people have complained about no-HD. It is NOT your local station that can make this happen - it is negotiations at a corporate level - between freedom and dish. Freedom:

Freedom Communications
17666 Fitch,
Irvine, Ca., 92614-6022

Our telephone number is
949-253-2300

Our main fax number is
949-474-7675

Email address
info@link.freedom.com

And they are called freedom for a reason:

Freedom Communications, Inc. - Preserving Liberty

After much hunting, I finally got a response from someone at Freedom Communications and it doesn't look good. Here is the response from James Lutton, the VP at WWMT:

===============================================

Mr. Nash…
We have been in a dispute with DISH for the last year. The main issue is compensation.
At this point, either side seems willing to bend. This dispute affects all of our Freedom Stations in six states.
I do not expect an early resolution to this dispute.
Have you considered changing services?
Sincerely,
Jim Lutton
VP - WWMT

=================================================

Geoff

**billybgame** · 01-13-2009 03:50 PM

Not good.

If it continues, I may be looking elsewhere. I love my .01 a year Cinemax and all, but the AT & T Uverse seems at least interesting now. Not sure if it's available for me yet, as I have over a year with Dish. But, I'll be finding out.

I want MLB Network, too.

**david_jr** · 02-25-2009 02:42 AM

I'm thinking about starting an email campaign with the local affiliate's (CBS 6 WRGB Albany) sponsors just to make sure they are aware that the local is withholding thier advertising from DISH customers. Anyone try this already?

**billybgame** · 02-25-2009 04:34 PM

Yeah, it's becoming ridiculous. Soon it'll be yet another March Madness, with no HD. Utterly unacceptable, if you ask me.

It doesn't bother me, as I watch little on CBS. EXCEPT NFL and March Madness and the Masters. For those three alone, though, WE NEED HD!

I might have to get working on my antennae.

**dishMIKE** · 02-25-2009 04:58 PM

You can add WLAJ 53 ABC to this list. Mike

**david_jr** · 02-25-2009 05:43 PM

Originally Posted by billybgame

Yeah, it's becoming ridiculous. Soon it'll be yet another March Madness, with no HD. Utterly unacceptable, if you ask me.

It doesn't bother me, as I watch little on CBS. EXCEPT NFL and March Madness and the Masters. For those three alone, though, WE NEED HD!

I might have to get working on my antennae.

I have spent a lot of money on antennas and still can only get my OTA reliably about 50% of the time. Any clouds or wind and it breaks up. Wife won't watch it that way. She would rather watch the SD on sat than breaking up HD on OTA. So I really need this on my sat in HD. Our market has the other three majors in HD. Freedom, which owns our CBS, is the only holdout. And they have been holding out for over a year so it must not be hurting them.