GCI customers have been dealing with the loss of three major television network stations as a result of rate increases.
According to their website, Vision Alaska and Coastal Television have taken away the ABC, FOX and CW television stations in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau, citing what they call unreasonable rate increases for their content.
The company website says that GCI yearly negotiates contracts with programmers so that they can provide customers with access to television shows, movies and sports. GCI pays a fee for each carried channel and each year, those fees increase. The company is in the process of trying to negotiate rates to keep costs low for customers but, at times, programmers propose costs that are, as the company says, “unrealistically high.” In those cases, when GCI can’t negotiate a more reasonable rate, the network will pull the channel from customers till demands are met.
Vision Alaska and Coastal Television is reportedly asking for a nearly 40% rate increase. GCI’s contract expired on December 31, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. GCI says, “In this case, Vision Alaska and Coastal Television, the Alaska operators of ABC, FOX, and CW have been asking for outrageous fee hikes across multiple channels that would ultimately contribute to higher costs for GCI TV customers. We are working to secure reasonable terms to bring back these channels.”
The channels impacted in Anchorage include:
- KYUR (ABC)
- KTBY (FOX)
- KYUR2 (CW)
The ABC, FOX and CW HD channels are also impacted, as a result.
In the meantime, while GCI is trying to sort the situation out, they suggest using video streaming services, which include YouTube TV and Hulu. Another possible option includes accessing local stations using an antenna via over-the-air signal.
If you are an impacted customer, more information can be found here.