Recommend This Story*Allbritton files complaint against Shentel with FCC
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By Sally Voth -- svoth@nvdaily.com
EDINBURG -- Shentel's decision to drop WJLA from its Shenandoah County cable lineup has resulted in a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission.
Arlington-based Allbritton Communications Co. filed the complaint yesterday, according to a news release. Allbritton and its affiliates operate WJLA (ABC 7) and "Politico," a newspaper and website, according to the release.
It accuses Shentel of "quintessentially bad faith negotiating."
Shentel dropped the ABC affiliate at the end of 2011, saying keeping it would increase customers' bills. County residents still receive another ABC affiliate, WHSV in Harrisonburg.
In its complaint, Allbritton says Shentel rejected its acceptance of a proposal first put forth by the Edinburg-based company. It also accuses Shentel of not providing proper notice of its intention to drop WJLA.
David Ferguson, formerly vice president of customer service for Shentel and now a consultant for the cable company, said Allbritton's version of the negotiations are inaccurate, and that the company planned to file a response to the FCC on Monday.
For further developments visit nvdaily.com or read the print edition of The Northern Virginia Daily.
If I recall correctly, the local broadcaster (in this case WJLA) can choose to be either "must carry" (forcing the cable operator to carry their station) or "can't carry" (preventing the cable operator from carrying their station). It's an extremely powerful right of the station. Normally the station demands money from the cable operator and if the cable operator doesn't want to pay that much, then the station forces a "can't carry" on them. So WJLA apparently wants money, threatens a "can't carry" if they don't pay it, but now is crying foul when ShenTel doesn't like the ransom amount. WJLA can force ShenTel to carry their signal ("must carry") or they can stop ShenTel from carrying it by choosing "can't carry." Don't get me wrong -- I don't much care for ShenTel's monopoly. But WJLA needs to grow up and put on their big boy pants. If they actually want ShenTel to carry them, then use the "force carry" option (collecting no money from ShenTel). If they actually want the money, then they have to lower the price. Boo-hoo for them, that is business ... a transaction in business takes place when the seller's asking price meets the buyer's price. Plus there is another affiliate on tap that us lifelong Valley residents would rather watch anyway.
You'll have to speak for yourself on that one....WHSV is a sorry substitute for WJLA.
Sign me as a lifelong Valley Resident as well!
Wow! Someone actually knows something besides just spewing dirreaha from the mouth. Because Shentel is a smaller company than say Comcast it becomes a situation of who needs who more. Shentel said get lost. Contracts between providers and stations are negotiated. The larger companies can negotiate better rates because they deliver to more people. If Shentel would have taken a higher contract rate from WJLA and passed on the bill to the customers you guys would still be crying.
I agree with Tstar. WJLA is a much better channel. As to Valley Resident's snarky comment. Who cares. You life long valley residents are quickly becoming the minority and less relevant by the day.
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