Time Warner Cable and CBS have suspended their prolonged dispute over retransmission fees long enough to allow WCBS, the CBS owned station in New York, to air its share of televised debates in the upcoming New York elections.
The New York City Campaign Finance Board brought the two companies together despite the ongoing battle that has left CBS owned stations on Time Warner Cable systems in the dark in markets like New York (WCBS), Los Angeles (KCBS), Dallas (KTVT) and Chicago (WBBM).
“With vacancies in all three citywide offices, this election will decide the future of the city we all share and love,” Father Joseph P. Parkes, Chairman of the New York Finance Board, said in a statement. “We are very pleased that these two institutions have chosen to look past their differences and provide all New Yorkers the best opportunity to see these important debates.”
WCBS will be seen on Time Warner so it can air the Democratic Primary debate for the Comptroller race from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. tonight. If the dispute continues, the station will re-appear on August 28 for the Republican Mayoral Primary debate from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. and, if necessary, for the Democratic Runoff debate for the Mayor’s race on Monday, September 23 at 7:00 p.m.
Last week, The Finance Board and the Voter Assistance Advisory Committee sent a letter to both Time Warner and CBS asking them to “set aside their differences so that New Yorkers have a chance to see the candidates debate one another before heading to the polls on Tuesday, September 10.”
[Variety]