Colorado Media Newsroom
August 14th, 2013, 12:30 PM
From The Denver Post:
http://blogs.denverpost.com/ostrow/wp-content/blogs.dir/49/files/2013/08/dish-rfd-screenshot-350.jpg
Comcast dropped Rural Media Group’s RFD-TV from its lineup in Colorado and New Mexico effective Tuesday. RFD bills itself as “the nation’s only channel devoted to rural America and western-lifestyle programming.”
“They pulled the plug on us,” said Patrick Gottsch, founder of Rural Media Group. “RFD is under contract with Comcast for the next four years. We’re a very economical channel that over-delivers on its audience. We were not contacted in any way by Comcast, there was no discussion.” He heard about it when viewers started calling.
On weekends, he said, RFD is a top-50 channel in Colorado and New Mexico and is No. 1 among the 50+ audience. “Hee-Haw” on Sunday night was attracting more than 1 million viewers nationwide.
“There’s a total disconnect with the Western lifestyle,” he said after talking with a Comcast executive. “This is a huge hit to us.”
The network launched on-air ads promoting Dish Network as an alternative source for its programming. Rural Media said the move affects 467,867 Colorado and 70,502 New Mexico customers who have received the network since 2010.
Comcast is launching high definition feeds of the Cooking Channel HD, Disney Jr. HD and The Smithsonian Channel HD in what was the RFD-TV channel space. Comcast spokesperson Cindy Parsons said, “We continually strive to add value to our Xfinity TV services and enhance the customer experience with advanced products and services, including additional high definition content. As a result, we regularly evaluate the content we offer in all areas. In this case, we have made the decision to remove carriage of RFD TV for customers in Colorado effective August 13, 2013.”
A statement from Rural Media Group founder Patrick Gottsch:
“This comes as a complete shock to everyone at RFD-TV. RFD-TV has higher ratings than over 100 other channels in these markets. For the past two-years RFD-TV has been the No. 1 Nielsen-rated channel for the 50+ demographic, and number one channel for ‘Time Spent Viewing.’ There is no dispute going on with Comcast, as RFD-TV is under contract through 2017. There was no advance notice provided from Comcast to RFD-TV, as we had to find out from viewers of Comcast’s plans.”
RFD said Colorado/New Mexico based businesses affected include the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), Professional Bull Riders (PBR), Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), Superior Livestock Auction (SLA), National High School Rodeo Association (NHSRA), Little Britches Rodeo, and Parelli Natural Horsemanship, all of which air weekly paid primetime programs on the network.
RFD has forwarded thousands of viewer letters to Comcast protesting the move.
More... (http://blogs.denverpost.com/ostrow/2013/08/14/comcast-drops-rfd-tv-in-colorado/16022/)
http://blogs.denverpost.com/ostrow/wp-content/blogs.dir/49/files/2013/08/dish-rfd-screenshot-350.jpg
Comcast dropped Rural Media Group’s RFD-TV from its lineup in Colorado and New Mexico effective Tuesday. RFD bills itself as “the nation’s only channel devoted to rural America and western-lifestyle programming.”
“They pulled the plug on us,” said Patrick Gottsch, founder of Rural Media Group. “RFD is under contract with Comcast for the next four years. We’re a very economical channel that over-delivers on its audience. We were not contacted in any way by Comcast, there was no discussion.” He heard about it when viewers started calling.
On weekends, he said, RFD is a top-50 channel in Colorado and New Mexico and is No. 1 among the 50+ audience. “Hee-Haw” on Sunday night was attracting more than 1 million viewers nationwide.
“There’s a total disconnect with the Western lifestyle,” he said after talking with a Comcast executive. “This is a huge hit to us.”
The network launched on-air ads promoting Dish Network as an alternative source for its programming. Rural Media said the move affects 467,867 Colorado and 70,502 New Mexico customers who have received the network since 2010.
Comcast is launching high definition feeds of the Cooking Channel HD, Disney Jr. HD and The Smithsonian Channel HD in what was the RFD-TV channel space. Comcast spokesperson Cindy Parsons said, “We continually strive to add value to our Xfinity TV services and enhance the customer experience with advanced products and services, including additional high definition content. As a result, we regularly evaluate the content we offer in all areas. In this case, we have made the decision to remove carriage of RFD TV for customers in Colorado effective August 13, 2013.”
A statement from Rural Media Group founder Patrick Gottsch:
“This comes as a complete shock to everyone at RFD-TV. RFD-TV has higher ratings than over 100 other channels in these markets. For the past two-years RFD-TV has been the No. 1 Nielsen-rated channel for the 50+ demographic, and number one channel for ‘Time Spent Viewing.’ There is no dispute going on with Comcast, as RFD-TV is under contract through 2017. There was no advance notice provided from Comcast to RFD-TV, as we had to find out from viewers of Comcast’s plans.”
RFD said Colorado/New Mexico based businesses affected include the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), Professional Bull Riders (PBR), Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), Superior Livestock Auction (SLA), National High School Rodeo Association (NHSRA), Little Britches Rodeo, and Parelli Natural Horsemanship, all of which air weekly paid primetime programs on the network.
RFD has forwarded thousands of viewer letters to Comcast protesting the move.
More... (http://blogs.denverpost.com/ostrow/2013/08/14/comcast-drops-rfd-tv-in-colorado/16022/)