10/24/2007

WJZ Loss Sparks Major Flap in Ocean Pines
By Bob Lassahn

In late September the news broke on OceanPinesForum.com that Mediacom, supplier of cable television service for Ocean Pines, would be dropping WJZ-TV Channel 13 from its channel lineup effective October 22. Confirmed by telephone calls to Mediacom's marketing offices the message sparked a groundswell of protest from locals who, as former residents of Baltimore and its environs, preferred to continue watching their news broadcasts from the Baltimore based CBS station in lieu of the Salisbury based CBS affiliate WBOC-TV16.

The issue prompted an e-mail campaign to Mediacom's corporate headquarters and to the Ocean Pines Association (OPA) offices seeking to overturn removal of WJZ. Eventually a "town meeting" between OPA's customer base and Mediacom's regional vice president of operations was scheduled for October 29 at 9 a.m. to discuss the issue along with other complaints or suggestions regarding cable service.

Rick Jordan, vice president and general manager of WBOC-TV learned of the dispute and after following the discussions on OceanPinesForum.com stepped up to inform this reporter that he "could not let Mediacom take 100 percent of the blame." During a telephone interview he assured that he was not trying to "spin" the issue and stated without reservation "if anyone is to be blamed…blame me."

Mr. Jordan explained that WBOC holds a network affiliate contract with CBS. Until about 10 years ago his station was actually paid by CBS to carry its programming, but times and fortunes have changed and today he says he writes a seven figure check to pay CBS for its lineup. When he purchases what is essentially a franchise he buys "all or nothing" giving virtually no latitude to deviate from the CBS national broadcast. However he also is provided with contractual rights regarding network non-duplication and it is the exercise of these rights that effectively prohibits Mediacom from carrying any CBS programming via WJZ-TV.

Without violating the contract Mediacom could carry WJZ local programming (basically their news) but despite attempts to attain broadcast rights solely for the news shows talks have proved unsuccessful. The issue is primarily money, with Mediacom also facing a significant sum to obtain a very limited product possibly for viewing "on demand" by interested subscribers.

Comcast continues to carry WJZ in its channel lineup for areas surrounding Ocean Pines, but according to Mr. Jordan that situation is finite. The existing contracts with Comcast will run out in about 18 months and they will then face the same issues currently experienced by Mediacom.

Baltimore's WBAL-TV (channel 11), an NBC affiliate continues to broadcast in the area since no other Mediacom channel is presently carrying NBC programming. For those with a passion to view the news from the Baltimore Metro area there remains an alternative. However, WBAL will be blocked locally for certain syndicated shows that also air on WBOC.

Mr. Jordan went on to assure that all network programming carried by WJZ, including Ravens' games, will appear on WBOC. In this he qualified that as an NFL affiliate he is also held to airing a specified lineup of games. The only difference is the news broadcasts will be truly "local."

WBOC-TV16 began television broadcasting on July 15, 1954 and today has 110 employees. An $8 million expansion of their news facility is currently underway as they prepare for the 2009 federal mandate for all digital, high definition broadcast.
As for comments Mr. Jordan observed wherein his news broadcasters were criticized as an "amateur hour," he says his employees work hard to provide excellent programming for the viewer. He sincerely hopes these judgments are based more on frustration levels due to losing something familiar and his product will be given a fair evaluation once the transition occurs.