The parent of KITV, Channel 4, the ABC affiliate here in the state, has reached an agreement that restored the channel to Oceanic Cablevision’s subscribers at 3:20 p.m. on Thursday, July 19. Hearst and Oceanic had had a dispute over money that stopped transmission from midnight between Monday, July 9 and Tuesday, July 10. Although the station was still available over the air and to subscribers on DISH TV and some other satellite carriers, most viewers in the state could only watch KITV online–or not at all.
But now it’s back, and expected to stay back–at least until the next contract dispute.
Original story from Tuesday, July 10:
rying to watch the KITV evening news? Or Dr. Oz? Or The Bachelorette? You will need your internet or over-the-air television signals to do that starting today. As of July 9, Oceanic Cable says that Hearst Television, the owner of KITV and thirteen other local television stations across the country, has told Oceanic Cable it must black out those stations. Oceanic Cable says that Hearst wants to raise its rates 300%. Oceanic Cablevision says that’s unsustainable for them, and would cause huge rate increases for customers.
So everywhere in the State of Hawaii, Oceanic Cablevision’s KITV station is dark, except for an announcement that you may find out more at http://twcconversations.com/local .
The Oceanic Cablevision web site says they are in negotiations with Hearst and hope to reach a mutually agreeable end to this blackout.
Meanwhile–you’ll have to watch The Bachelorette and Diane Sawyer online…if at all.
