Central CA—This might come under the heading of TMI for TVV (too much information for TV viewers). There are up to 1.5 million people in California’s Central region. A recent business negotiation created a lot of static for a large segment of that population.  

The FOX affiliate in Central California, KMPH, had a difference of opinion with one of the local cable providers, Comcast. It was a negotiation for re-transmission rights. The local affiliate wanted its fair share for rights to its programs. The definition of “fair” created the tension.

The TMI for TVV comes in after the two sides went public. The cable company hit the cable lines with its message. The TV station went to the airwaves warning that FOX programming might disappear. Just a small warning, a matter of seconds really, that just so happened to run in American Idol. The “Idol” threat stirred thousands watching. The notion that “Idol” might disappear was too much.

Advertisers were uncomfortable with the tension. Distressed viewers flooded both sides with calls. A dilemma was brewing. What will we do if cable drops FOX?

It demonstrated how quickly we change and forget. We changed from free TV, to pay for cable, then to pay for satellite, and forgot that all that FOX stuff (and more) is up in the air for FREE. People with antennas had nothing to worry about, but still there was a panic that cable would drop FOX.

In Central California, cable watchers make up perhaps a third of the audience but the idea of going back to antenna’s had a majority of the viewing public, even those with rabbit ears and dishes in a uproar. Before the confusion escalated further something magical happened. 

Poof, after the announcement on American Idol’s premiere night, it was a done deal. Vocal viewers may have helped speed it up. No matter what the case, it was amazing to see what happens when you substitute TV screens for picket signs.  Only a third of the viewers would have been effected by a day without cable, but you’d never have known it by the public reaction.

M.Brace Coines-RLTV