Charter, WCOV still negotiating
Published 12:00 am Sunday, January 4, 2009
Football fanatics and Charter customers will not have to miss the bowl games carried on WCOV FOX20.
WCOV FOX20 issued a statement to media saying that the station and Charter Cable have reached a short term agreement that will allow the station to stay on Charter until Jan. 7.
According to David Woods, WCOV president, the two parties agreed to a one-week extension after days and hours of negotiations.
“We worked very hard to finalize the formal agreement with Charter and time just ran out. We felt it would be in the best interest of the viewers to do the one-week extension,” Woods said.
“The Charter Executives are to be complimented as they put forth significant effort to complete the formal agreement. They worked late on New Year’s Eve as their offices are on east coast time. At 5:30 p.m. Eastern time, we decided it was time to go home.”
Charter Spokesperson Anita Lamont confirmed that the two companies have a short-term agreement and there are strong hopes for a final agreement.
“Charter and Woods Communications have an agreement in principle for WCOV which is an indicator that a final agreement will be reached a soon as possible,” Lamont said.
Lamont said she anticipates a final agreement to be reached by Wednesday or shortly thereafter.
“We are excited that Charter customers (were) able to watch the Sugar Bowl with the Alabama Crimson Tide and Utah on Jan. 2 as well as the Cotton Bowl, Orange Bowl, Fiesta Bowl and the NFC Wild games on Sunday Jan. 4,” Woods said.
Negotations between the station and Charter will resume Jan. 5.