This is good stuff. My belief has always been the current affiliation system is outdated. I don’t care about my local channels, I care about network programming on CBS, NBC, FOX and ABC. That includes primetime programming and sports. Make ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX cable channels and let all local channels be independents. I could careless about the local news and whatnot and it sucks that people are denied network programming because the stupid local broadcasters are crybabies. The issue here is between Time Warner and Smith Media not between Time Warner and NBC. A few years a when Time Warner and LIN went at it and LIN owned stations were pulled, TW replaced the LIN owned CBS and CW affiliates in Buffalo with the ones from Rochester but after about a week LIN cried and they were taken down. Still watched CBS from Rochester on unencrypted QAM on TW tough. Screw ‘em!
The contract between Time Warner and Sinclair is ending at the end of the month as well. Here in Buffalo and in Rochester and Syracuse as well Sinclair owns the Fox affiliates, BUT Time Warner has a direct contract with Fox, for network programming. If (and hopefully they are) WUTV, WUHF and WSYT are pulled viewers all across Upstate NY will still receive Fox programming. Sinclair also owns the MyNetwork TV stations in Buffalo and Syracuse, but I don’t think anyone will miss them.
