Mediacom official: Sinclair negotiations 'really productive'

Mediacom officials said today that hopes are high for a retransmission consent deal with Sinclair Broadcast Group before a temporary extension that allowed Iowa customers to view the Orange Bowl runs out this weekend.

The Cedar Rapids-based KFXA-FOX 28 and KGAN CBS-2 could be taken off Mediacom's cable network at the end of Friday if a new three-year agreement is not reached. The last three-year retransmission agreement ran out Dec. 31.

The two companies agreed to an eight-day extension shortly before the deadline under pressure from Iowa leaders to avoid disrupting access to the Iowa Hawkeyes' appearance in the Orange Bowl on Fox.

“Negotiations in the last couple of days have been really productive,” Mediacom Vice President of Legal and Public Affairs Tom Larsen said.

Larsen said he is “fairly optimistic” that the negotiations can be wrapped up within the next day.

Sinclair General Counsel Barry Faber was not immediately available for comment.

Many broadcast television chains are seeking higher retransmission fees from cable providers to make up for a decline in advertising revenues that have resulted from lower viewership. Viewership has declined because of an explosion in viewing and other entertainment options available to consumers.

Some broadcast networks have instructed customers how to receive their signals on WebTV. Sinclair has aligned itself with satellite providers in the dispute, urging Mediacom customers to defect to satellite as a pressure tactic in the hardball retransmission negotiations.