The Milwaukee Post

14 • Milwaukee Post • September 13, 2013 Time Warner, Journal Broadcast Group still at odds over retransmission fees Recent negotiations fail to resolve situation By KEVIN PASSON Special to The Post MILWAUKEE – Local Time Warner AVOID COSTLY PROBATE (and Confusing Trusts) Changes to Wisconsin law have now made it possible to leave your entire estate to your spouse without going through costly and time consuming probate. Your spouse can then, upon his/her death, leave everything to your children, again without probate. All this can be accomplished without an expensive and confusing living trust. Please Call for a Free Simple Estate Planning Consultation 3625 W. Oklahoma Avenue Milwaukee (414)383-3902 232520154 Attorney James J. Winiarski cable TV subscribers wanting to catch the NFL's Sunday night opener once again reached for their antennas to bring the game to life on their TVs. The dispute over retransmission fees between Time Warner and Journal Broadcast Group, owner of the local NBC affiliate, WTMJTV is seven weeks old, with no resolution , in sight. "We met face-to-face with Time Warner (last) week in an effort to resolve the retransmission dispute," Steve Wexler, executive vice president of radio and TV for Journal Broadcast, said in a recent statement. "While both sides exchanged offers, the meetings did not result in an agreement to return our stations to their cable lineup." Michael Pedelty, Time Warner's director of public relations for the Central U.S. area, said the sides are still far apart. "We're pleased to have finally talked with the leadership of the Journal Broadcast Group," he said. "My understanding is that they (Journal Broadcast) are still firm in their demand for a 200 percent increase in retransmission fees, and this is unacceptable to us." Aid and Attendance Benefit Are you a Veteran or a Surviving Spouse of a Veteran who Served during War Time? If you are, you may qualify for this service related pension available to help offset some of the cost of home health care, assisted living, or nursing home expenses. Veterans and their families are encouraged to join us for this presentation given by Jim Duff of the Milwaukee County Veterans Service Office to learn more about the financial, medical and military service requirements for you to qualify. Bring along your questions! Light refreshments will be served and tours will be available. Wednesday, September 18, 2013 6:00 - 7:00 pm RSVP at 414-489-1400 by Friday, September 7th. 234117006 Senior community 2500 E. Howard Ave., St. Francis, WI 53235 414-489-1400 www.laureategroup.com • No endowment fee Compounding the issue even more is that other programming can now be found on WTMJ's dial location. "Time Warner continues to tell us they have sold our Channel 4 position and that it is now unavailable, which is not acceptable to us for reasons that should be obvious to everyone," Wexler said. "We hope these recent efforts will lead us to a fair agreement very soon, before more programming is jeopardized." Channel 4 now showing game shows, tennis The Channel 4 dial location, which WTMJ has held since 1953, is central to its on-air identity, Wexler said. Time Warner has placed the Game Show Network and the Tennis Channel at the dial location. "We'd really like to get this taken care of as soon as possible," Pedelty said. "We want a deal. We agree there is a value to having all of our broadcast customers on the air." Pedelty said blackouts like this have become more frequent in recent years. He said there were 80 such blackouts in the past year across the United States. Last week, Time Warner settled a dispute with the CBS network that had resulted in a blackout of programming in some of the country's largest markets. "While we certainly didn't get everything we wanted, ultimately we ended up in a much better place than when we started," said Glenn Britt, Time Warner's chairman and CEO in a statement. "We are also encouraged by the 50-plus consumer organizations and legislators that supported our call for Congress and the FCC to reassess the 1992 retransmission consent rules. "The rules are woefully out of date, are the primary reason cable bills are rising, and too frequently leave our customers without the programming they love." Journal Broadcast officials said they were encouraged by the agreement. "We are hopeful we can now reach a mutually beneficial agreement with Time Warner Cable and have all of the valuable programming from the Journal Broadcast Group stations returned to our viewers in Wisconsin, Nebraska and California," said Andre Fernandez, president and CFO of Journal Communications. Consistently Quiet. Energy Efficient. And Saves YOU Money! Get Up To $2,175 in REBATES & INCENTIVES* On Select Carrier Heating & Cooling Systems 24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE D&M Heating and Air Conditioning 4227 S. 13th St. Milwaukee 414-281-5350 "At Your Service" www.dmheating.com • Prompt, professional service since 1979 *$1,100 on a Greespeed Infitiy System (MN7/VNAO) + $150 Wifi Infinity Touch Control +$150 Infinity Air Purifier + up to $500 tax credit + $275 Focus on Energy) 234058044

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