AcenTek Press Release

AcenTek Customers

KCRG-ABC Significantly Raises Cost For Iowa          

Video Customers; AcenTek Won’t Concede   

 [Houston, MN - 9.27.17] – AcenTek has been in negotiations with Gray Television Group, Inc. for the right to carry (or “re-transmit”) its KCRG-ABC signal in our Iowa exchanges. Unfortunately, Gray Television Group, Inc. is currently demanding extremely high fees for AcenTek to carry KCRG-ABC, with a proposed 102% rate increase. KCRG-ABC is looking to maximize its profits at the customers’ expense, while AcenTek is trying to keep costs down. 

After several attempts to negotiate with Gray Television Group, Inc., the company insists the customer pay more or face a signal blackout. AcenTek does not want to pass this unreasonable cost to its customers. This means that at midnight on September 30, AcenTek Video customers in Iowa will no longer have access to their ABC channels, KCRG (channel 9), KCRG HD (channel 309) and KCRG 9.2 (channel 71).  

“AcenTek is committed to signing deals for the programming our customers want at reasonable monthly fees and to avoid a situation where corporate broadcasters temporarily remove popular programs,” said Todd Roesler, CEO at AcenTek. “While AcenTek’s goal remains to negotiate the lowest costs for programming and to provide customers with better service options, this has gotten much harder over the years.”  

This process, which typically occurs (not only for AcenTek, but for all providers across the country) every three years. The price to carry local channels has increased over the years because of the change in the industry. 

Historically, broadcasters were locally owned businesses that worked side-by-side with providers like AcenTek. But as the broadcast industry has gone corporate, local cable operators are forced to negotiate with regional and national entities whose owners and employees are outside the community.  

“While broadcasters demand a sharp increase in fees and then potentially pull their channels from the air until their demands are met, AcenTek will continue to fight on behalf of our customers to keep rates down,” Roesler states.  

If you wish to express your disappointment in no longer having access to KCRG channels, please contact  Gray Television Group, Inc. directly at 1.800.332.5443. For more information on this issue, please visit KeepTheConnections.com.  

# # # If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Darren Moser, CFO  at 507.896.6343  or email at dmoser@AcenTek.net