Time/Warner Pulls The Plug On KMBC/KWCE TV

So-called carriage agreements, the contracts under which local and network television is carried on cable TV, have been wreaking havoc in cable markets from coast to coast for months now.

On Tuesday, another casualty surfaced,  this time in the Kansas City market.

Time/Warner Cable has pulled the plug on Kansas City’s KMBC-TV and KWCE-TV because of a dispute over their carriage agreement.

In an online announcement, station management said they have been unable to reach a new agreement.

“As a result, unless there is a change in Time Warner’s position, carriage of KMBC-TV and KCWE-TV will no longer be available to you on Time Warner Systems,” according to the announcement.

Their prior agreement expired at 11:59 pm on Monday July 9, and by noon on Tuesday the stations were not being carried.  When we called the stations, a pre-recorded message said the office was closed.  Negotiations are said to be ongoing, but the stations will not return without an agreement.

“We cannot predict if or when discussions with Time Warner will resume or if or when KMBC-TV and KCWE-TV’s programming will be restored on Time Warner systems,” according to the announcement.

“In light of this impasse, we urge viewers to make alternative arrangements for receipt of our signal. Our signal remains available over the air for free and also on other cable systems, DIRECTV and DISH Network.  We apologize for this inconvenience and thank you for your loyal support.”

A spokesman for Suddenlink Cable in St Joseph said they have long-term carriage agreements in place with each of the Kansas City and St Joseph televisions currently carried on the Suddenlink system.