Losing Fox45 in Baltimore?

I just saw a crawl come across Fox45 here in Baltimore, saying that Verizon FiOS is in danger of losing it. I only caught the second half of it, but found this on-line:

Verizon Fios' current contract to carry this station expires on December 31, 2011, and based on the current status of negotiations we do not believe they will be carrying this station after that date.

Really?!?

Accepted answers

@tsteng272 wrote:
Same problem here in Pittsburgh with Fox 53, and I will also be switching to Comcast!

Both sides are saying a tentative agreement has been reached.

All comments

I never gave any credence to the commercials Fox 45 has been airing, but seeing that crawl and also the message at the top of their website (foxbaltimore.com) has me concerned. I don't get it either, but Fios is definitely going to get calls from me. I watch Fox Morning News every day and enjoy a few tv shows here and there...guess when I call I'll see how serious it is. Red tape stinks.

Would we lose the national broadcast also...NFL football on Fox. If thats the case they will be hearing it from alot of people.

Isn't Fox 45 a local broadcast channel in Baltimore? Under FCC regulations Fox must provide the channel. Now that same rule does not apply to the national cable channels, if Verizon has a dispute. Now if Verizon tries to use the dropping the local broadcast as leverage in a contract dispute, I believe they will be in violation off FCC regulations.

I think that "must carry" rules only apply if the broadcast channel is asking for nothing in return. In this case, we all know that FOX station owners are demanding more and more for systems to carry them. They know they can get a lot based on the programming they have, right or wrong. If systems had to carry broadcast stations under any terms, then the stations could simply set any price they wanted.

@Caps09 wrote:
I think that "must carry" rules only apply if the broadcast channel is asking for nothing in return. In this case, we all know that FOX station owners are demanding more and more for systems to carry them. They know they can get a lot based on the programming they have, right or wrong. If systems had to carry broadcast stations under any terms, then the stations could simply set any price they wanted.

I thought the local broadcast channels must provide the channels to the "local" cable companies at no cost as a public service, and the networks cable only channels charged fees. Perhaps I misundersand the rule.

Nope, the local stations can charge for retransmission. This whole thing happens to be stations owned by Sinclair, which includes my local FOX station in Richmond, so I will lose it too if no agreement is reached. The problem in the United States is that local stations have way too much leverage because cable and satellite providers are prohibited from showing stations from another market. It's either your local affiliate or nothing.

While I know the landscape is different, cable companies in Canada carry CBC affiliates from across the country. You can watch any regional NHL game on Saturdays on TV, and if you can't manage that, CBC shows it online for free. Quite a difference from MLB on FOX, where you're stuck with the game selected for your city, like it or not.

I still expect Verizon to reach a deal with Sinclair, even if it's at the last minute.

Switched to Verizon a couple of months ago. If you drop Fox 45 and CW I will switch back to Comcast! This would really be a dumb move by Verizon and your customers don't really care what reasons you may **bleep** us with!

I JUST switched to Fios this week and I'm not very happy to find out that Fios may drop WBFF Fox 45 and WNUV CW come 1 Jan. I live less than 5 miles from the city of Baltimore and I'm not going to get these two local channels? In addition to missing out on Ravens football, there's the morning traffic and weather. Not Cool.

Quite disappointed that Verizon is even considering such a change. We were first on the list to become a FIOS customer because of their customer service. This would be an EPIC let down.

@threehummers wrote:
Switched to Verizon a couple of months ago. If you drop Fox 45 and CW I will switch back to Comcast! This would really be a dumb move by Verizon and your customers don't really care what reasons you may **bleep** us with!

I can't believe they would actually consider not having Fox 45/CW. I will cancel and go to another provider if they choose to do so. I pay for TV so I can relax and watch what I want, not what Verizon feels like airing!!!!!

The thought of losing WBFF Fox News is very troubling. When I was upset with pricing on Comcast, I left it for Verizon. I can do the same if I become unhappy with Verizon. If I cannot watch the 10 PM News on WBFF, I will once again have to make a change. I hope you reconsider keeping it on the schedule.

My wife called and after more than an hour trying to reach someone, there was very little in the way of an explanation. As far as I am concerned you could remove hundreds of the other channels that I have never watched, but leave the Fox affiliates alone!

Tom

I sent an email message to Verizon voicing my displeasure over this. I watch Fox45 morning news. As far as weather related school/work closures (especially during snowstorms) they are the best. NFL football and a few other shows make it a "needed" channel for me. I would seriously consider going bakc to Comcast for this.

Sinclair is trying to grow their network of stations so I don't see them letting the deal expire without an extension in place or somehow getting a new deal done.

If you get your TV broadcast through a pay service ( cable, satellite, etc.) there will always be issues like this, when contracts expire. I remember a few years ago Comcast had the same issues with some local broadcast affiliates threatening to cut there broadcast. So those threating to switch to another carrier could be dealing with the same situation next year.....This is not unique to Verizon, next year it could be Comcast or Direct TV. Also, if your under contract and cancel its going to cost you a few bucks.

I want to to know why FIOS is considering to discontinue these channels? If this is true I will not be renewing my contract.

There are already 2 threads on this topic.

*********Reposted from the other topic since this seems to be the main thread of the three started on this topic*********

I JUST switched to Fios last week and I'm not very happy to find out that Fios may drop WBFF Fox 45 and WNUV CW come 1 Jan. I live less than 5 miles from the city of Baltimore and I'm not going to get these two local channels? In addition to missing out on Ravens football, there's the morning traffic and weather. Not Cool.

Fios is unlikely to being considering discontinuing them, but Sinclair typically gets into these disputes every time they are renewing with all the carriers. They typically ask for more then they are worth.

Those of us that reside in the Baltimore area have been informed by our local Fox station that Verizon will no longer carry this station after January 1. If this is the case, we will all leave Fox and go to Comcast as we are all Raven fans and will miss some of the games which are carried on Fox. We like Verizon, but we LOVE the Ravens!!!

Why now get rid of some of the lousy stations . There are plenty of them to choose from!!!!

Just saw a message going across my screen on the local Fox News Channel in Baltimore County, Maryland that beginning Jan.1,2012, Verizon will no longer carry Fox. If this is the case many customers will be switching to another provider as this is a very poular channel and carries many of the Ravens and other professional football games. I will be inquiring with my Baltimore County council and Baltimore County Executive to try to get Fox back.

Holly

We just got the same message in Richmond, VA. Didn't they get in this kind of argument a few years ago but worked it out at the last minute? If Fios does lose FOX, they will definitely lose our household to Comcast. I will not miss Football and my son's fav show is The Simpsons. Plus I can't stay up until 11 for local news, the 10 p.m. broadcast is what I watch.

Go to the following link to read about this ion the local Fox website.

http://www.foxbaltimore.com/

Also we called Verizon and the rep said Sinclair Broaddcasting is in negotiations with Fox ,and it will probably be resolved before Jan.1,.2012. Sinclair also owns WNUVTV in Baltimore too. I think this happened a few years ago and it might have been with Comcast. I think Fox is trying to get its viewers to help with their negotiations.

Holly

But if they don't carry Fox, Comcast is going to get thousands of Verizon customers here in the Baltimore area.

I think you're right. Get in touch with local officials.

Just had a crawl on my screen saying Fox 53 will no longer be provided here in Pittsburgh,PA starting in January. Fios, are you out of your mind? Football and some of the best programs are on Fox. Get your act together or you will lose thousands of customers to Comcast.

Its not Fox or Verizon that is the problem it's Sinclair Broadcasting, complain to them . They are trying to get more money out of Verizon.You know who's going to pay in the end.....You and me!

I am with you if they remove the CW I will cancel my account. Three of my favorite shows come on that channel.

Again, Its not Verizon that is dropping the stations...Its Sinclair Broadcasting that willnot allow them to carry the feed unless they pay up. You can switch to Comcast and they could have the same issue with Sinclair Broadcasting or some other broadcaster when their contract is up.

I WILL DROP FIOS LIKE A HOT POTATO. FOX OFFERS TOO MUCH TO LOSE!!!!

I heard you are not going to carry Fox 45 at the begining of the year. I really hope you can kept the channel I don't want to get another service but I got to watch football.

@Dutch421 wrote:
Again, Its not Verizon that is dropping the stations...Its Sinclair Broadcasting that willnot allow them to carry the feed unless they pay up. You can switch to Comcast and they could have the same issue with Sinclair Broadcasting or some other broadcaster when their contract is up.

About a year before I switched to FiOS this same dispute came up on Crapcast, exact same messages and everything. Sinclair Broadcasting Group are truely the scum of the earth, just go look at there massive building off I83, it just goes to show what they realy spend there extortion fees on. I say to Verizon go ahead and drop these fools, I can always watch there shows off my antenna for free there is no need for them to ask for more money just to show more crappy reality shows anyway.

Have been a VZ subscriber for a LONG time because of the programming & bundle service. Though we DON'T feel VZ will drop FOX/CW, we are preparing to move our provider to one who DOES. Might actually be cheaper in the long run?!? We watch a lot on FOX as most likely do many others! So it will NOT be in VZ's best interest to no longer carry these channels. Staying put for right now.

I WILL CANCEL FIOS IF THEY DON'T CARRY FOX. I WILL REFUSE TO PAY THE FEE I'M FED UP WITH PAYING FOR SERVICE THAT IS NOT PROVIDED.

I called into Verizon last night and the customer service rep could not verify if Fios was officially dropping FOX. I called again this evening and the rep made it clear FOX has been dropped.

Due to Verizon's decision to drop FOX, I have cancelled our Fios service effective January 1, 2012. For all of those folks flipping out over this change, I would suggest calling Fios and cancelling your account. You are able to pick any date in the future for the disconnect to take place. If FOX is not part of the cable line-up on January 1, 2012 then unfortunatley I will be a Comcast customer again.

Very bad move Verizon!

I will switch back and take the incentives from Comcast if Verizon Fios drops Fox.

I think we should start a facebook page to petition Verizon. Who's with me?

My wife and I will definitely switch to Comcast if this happens. I enjoy Fox programming as well as the 'early late' news. This would be very aggravating as well as disappointing due to NFL football, etc. I want Verizon to understand how much I am displeased with this news.

If you want to switch, please call me {edited for privacy}

Simple no Fox 45 / CW no more FIOS.

They take away my football on sunday, they dont deserve my money. Since all the other providers

still carry both channels.

Also Fox has to understand that alot of people wont WAIT till the last minute, u wait for last minute, u wont

get the other service installed in time. So they better decide quick or they will loose alot fo customers to their

competitors. Already spoke to Comcast and i can get Internet + TV for $70 a month. Okay will get some more fees

over it, but 70 as to 90 now, is already a 20 dollar win.

I am still mad at them for not canceling our account in California, charging us for two additional months after we turned our equipment in and then threatened to send us to collection for not paying our bill. I will never go back to them and their horrible service but I will not be able to stay with FiOS if they drop Fox. Is it just Fox Baltimore? Will the DC station still be available? Just curious if it is all Fox programming or just some of the Fox stations. Fox DC plays better games on Sunday anyway.

So what are my options if they do drop Fox? Directv or whatever that other cable company around here is? Directv can get iffy in bad weather and since I am in a townhouse there would be no way to get to the dish to clean any ice off it. That pretty much just leaves the cable company I have never heard of before and do not know anyone who has the service. Or over the air and give up all the pay stations.

This sucks. FiOS and Fox, work it out already so I don't have to worry about this over Christmas. Thanks.

We have been with Verizon Fios since May of this year almost as soon as it was available in our area. We had been counting down the days to get rid of Comcast and their ever increasing fees, etc. We left Comcast knowing we were losing a few channels that Fios doesn't have and to be honest most of the channel packages for Fios have hundreds of channels I will never watch, never heard of and don't want. I almost wish I could create my own package of channels. However, losing both the CW and Fox45 would definitely lose me as a customer to some other network that WILL carry them. My husband and I are HUGE Ravens fans and cannot be without the games. In addition, the CW carries many shows we watch regularly. I live by Fox45's news in the morning to plan my ride to work, etc. I can't even find another channel for the weather most of the time and I trust Fox. It will be a very sad day come the first of 2012 without both channels and another customer leaving Fios -- I don't care about fees for cancelation -- I'd rather be happy with the service I am paying for and actually getting what I am paying for than not. So I feel the same as everyone else pretty much that has posted. If there is something I can do to have Fios avoid losing these channels, then I would do it...but...who knows....they've still got time.

Verizon Fios is not canceling FOX...They are not in negotiations with FOX. They are in negotiations with Sinclair Broadcasting. Do you really think a Verizon CSR knows the status of the negotiations . Who ever told you they are dropping the station was misinformed. Instead of calling Verizon, call Sinclair Broadcasting and ask them why they are charging Verizon more to carry their feed. This will get worked out , before Jan. 1.

I agreed to the service based on the programming available. This would be a breach and will move to Comcast. We pay more than enough for this service!

all the sinclar stations maybe going from the fios line up

inc albany buffalo ok plz check on that

Who can tell me what's going on with the "alerts" warnings re: Fios customers losing Fox & CW channels in the Baltimore area?

I would like to know why Verizon Fios is eliminating FOX-Richmond from its TV lineup. Their 10 pm local news is very important to us as well as some of their NFL broadcast football games. By removing this local channel will Verizon Fios be discounting its rate, I think not. Please let me know what is going on. Thank you!

There are already threads on this topic...please read them to get the real story. In short, Verizon is not dropping the stations. Verizons contract with Sinclair Broacasting expires Jan.1.Sinclair Broacasting want to charge Verizon more to carry the stations under a new contract. Its only going to cost us more in the end.

I guess I will be pay the $345 early termination fee and going back to Comcast. Comcast have been knocking at my door lately. Maybe they will pay the fee since they want me back. Fox is a one the major networks in Baltimore. What's next, the CW, WBAL? That is just crazy.

Its not Verizon's fault (read my other posts). You better make sure Comcast's contract is not up anytime soon with one of your favorite channels or you'll be dealing with the same situation. I would never go back to Comcast.When was the last time they updated anything , their guide looks like its from the 1980's.

I hope someone in Corp. reads these and all post... But I can tell you this my mother in-law and I both have FIOS cable. And I can tell you with out a doubt I WILL CANCEL my subscription if come Jan 1 they stop caring FOX. So I hope some one reads this that is high up the food chain and knows that they will lose a lot of people. You can't take away local programming and expect nothing.

thank you

William

For the 10th time Verizon is not dropping Fox. It is Sinclair Broadcasting who carries the Fox feed in certain cities, who are in a contract battle with Verizon. Call them and ask how much more they want to charge Verizon under a new contract to carry their feed.

dont realy care if they are tryin to charge more to have verizon keep rebroadcasting fox... the point is they are talking about dropping... and that makes ppl mad... well me

FOX channels in the Baltimore area are running a crawler stating that after 1/2/2012, FOX channels will only be available on COMCAST, DirectTV, and DishTV. They will no longer be on FIOS.

I signed with Verizon from DirectTV for the better service and selection. If Verizon isn't going to carry my local channels, that leaves me no choice but to go back to another service with full channel.

What's the story here? Will FOX channels be gone after 1/1/2012?

Read the multiple threads on this subject.

You will when the price of your sevice goes up ..... Why should Verizon pay a premium For a FREE over the air station.

You are talking symantics but not much else.

If Verizon is negotiating with Sinclair broadcasting, who owns Fox and CW in Baltimore & Richmond, then what alternatives are they proposing should their negotiating fail. If they are not proposing any viewing alternatives, then your comments making a distinction between Channels vs Station Owner are a mute point because at the end of the day, Verizon FIOS customers will not have Fox or CW channels in those viewing areas.

Just like with the other service providers, Sinclair plays hardball. However, if Verizon doesn't step up, they will likely loose subscribers.

If Verizon drops these channels, I am gone! Even though I hate crapcast. Verizon-Keep our channels!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My cable bill with Verizon is high enough. I never watch the Sinclair stations. Verizon should tell Sinclair Broadcast Group to go pound sand!

It really doesn't matter, Dutch, who is dropping what.. We are all going to go to a cable company that carries the stations we want to watch Corporate greed is corporate greed. I will change back and forth, if I can save money by doing so. New customers, after all, get the lowest prices, and those of us who have had Verizon ,or Comcast for that matter, have our price go up every time our contract expires. What we need is a third cable company to bring a little more competition into the mix.

An article from the Baltimore Sun about the Sinclair Broadcast Group dispute with Verizon:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/tv/z-on-tv-blog/bal-sinclair-using-its-baltimore-airwaves-in-negotiations-with-verizon-20111219,0,2717331.story

Sorry, but I would not go back to Comcast. They take your money and never update any of their service. At least Verizon does attempt to upgrade their some of their features. I based my choice on features and price , like when you buy a car.

Enjoy your Comcast.

Same problem here in Pittsburgh with Fox 53, and I will also be switching to Comcast!

We have been informed that as of January 1st, 2012 Verizon Fios will no longer be able to offer the Pittsburgh channels for Fox and My Tv Pittsburgh. My children and I watch these stations daily and want to know what is being done to correct this. If we loose these stations we will be forced to look for other options like Direct TV, Dish Network or Comcast. I don't want to do this but will if I have to. Has anyone heard about this and have information?

I would think that if Verizon cancels FOX & CW local programming, they have voided the contract with the customers that signed up before. I would also think that if this happens I would not have to pay a cancellation fee due to the fact that I signed up having these stations.

Both sides are saying a tentative agreement has been reached.

Both sides are now saying a tentative agreement has been reached.

@tsteng272 wrote:
Same problem here in Pittsburgh with Fox 53, and I will also be switching to Comcast!

Both sides are saying a tentative agreement has been reached.

@dptland wrote:
I would think that if Verizon cancels FOX & CW local programming, they have voided the contract with the customers that signed up before. I would also think that if this happens I would not have to pay a cancellation fee due to the fact that I signed up having these stations.

While I know that both sides have reached an agreement I will say this for the future. You realy should read contracts that you sign, you will find in the Verizon FiOS TV contract that loss of programing does not consitute a breach of contract. So if you had lost FOX & CW and you left you would pay the ETF. Companys are not stupid and pay laywers thousands of dollars to write these contracts up and they anticipate these things and take precautions to keep customers from using this to there advantage.

Hope all those people threatening to switch to Comcast, didn't jump ship... Now that a deal is done. It rarely comes to the station being withheld.

I find it infuriating that one of the main channels my family and I watch, FOX, is being removed from FIOS. Sadly, this will make us return to Comcast. Can't all of the entities act like adults & figure out the issue? What the hell do we pay for...more bureaucratic nightmares!

@Wendybalt wrote:
I find it infuriating that one of the main channels my family and I watch, FOX, is being removed from FIOS. Sadly, this will make us return to Comcast. Can't all of the entities act like adults & figure out the issue? What the hell do we pay for...more bureaucratic nightmares!

Did you read the above post....A settlement has been reached.

My family and I watch FOX TV almost every night..It has some great family shows.. Please do not get rid of it. Sign the contract..If fox is taken away, with regret, I will move to comcast.. I've been with them before, and had no problems. I do like Verizon fios a lot, but if you can not provide me and my family with all regular channels then I must go somewhere else.

Mary Virginia

{edited for privacy}

Again, a settlement has been reached.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/tv/z-on-tv-blog/bal-sinclair-verizon-reach-deal-wbff-wnuv-20111222,0,7949796.story

We all want FOX!!!

Add our household to that list.

What list?

Note a settlement was reached and announced Dec. 22.

The main thing is that everyone is looking at Fios as the bad guy, oh switch to Comcast you say. Well what happens when Comcast loses its contract? The market share is growing with Fios, I do agree, but switching to Comcast doesn't solve the answer. My suggestion is stop watching FOX, the CW, and watch their worth decline. Losing part of your broadcast audience even if it is retransmission will hurt your business. This is not a Verizon problem its Sinclair communication problem which everyone one of you who says they will switch to Comcast is making Sinclair look like the good guy when in fact its their problem to fix.

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