FPB drops WDRB after unreasonable hike in fees

Every three years, FPB is required to renegotiate retransmission consent rights with local broadcasters. Local stations charge FPB and other cable operators fees in exchange for these rights to put their station on the cable lineup. Higher fees paid to local stations would mean higher costs to FPB customers, which a survey of cable subscribers showed customers were not willing to pay.

As a result of these negotiations, effective January 1, 2021, FPB will no longer carry WDRB on channel 4/504.  The fees required to carry the station are not in line with what other companies are charging, especially considering its status as a part-time station only carrying local news. Therefore, there is no agreement in place to continue airing this channel.

WDRB required an increase of nearly 20 percent in fees in the first year and 10 percent each following year that would have to be passed on to FPB customers in the form of the retransmission surcharge. 

Knowing how much the cost of cable to our customers has increased over the years, FPB appealed to WDRB to continue to offer the service at the same cost. WDRB refused.  Every other Louisville broadcast station came to FPB in 2020 with lower or flat rates except WDRB.

For our customers who will miss WDRB, the station makes its newscasts available FOR FREE on the internet at https://www.wdrb.com/watch-now/ or through the WDRB app (available on multiple platforms and devices).  It is unreasonable that WDRB demands FPB customers to pay a substantial fee to watch programming that they give away for free over the air and over the internet.

WLKY and WHAS from Louisville are still available on the FPB channel lineup, and in the coming days, WAVE will return to the FPB lineup.

We appreciate our customers’ understanding and support as we work to provide the best content at the best value possible.

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