PITTSBURGH — WPXI-TV Channel 11 today announced that Comcast has decided that its subscribers will no longer be able to access the Pittsburgh Cable News Channel beginning on January 1, 2020.
Since 1994, PCNC- Pittsburgh Cable News Channel has served the communities of Pittsburgh and the surrounding region by providing viewers with up-to-the minute news, weather and talk programming. PCNC is carried by most major cable systems throughout the area and has been carried by Comcast for almost two decades. Comcast subscribers have come to rely on PCNC as the trusted source of local news, weather and information. On Monday, without any prior warning, Comcast informed WPXI’s parent company that it will cease distribution of PCNC to Comcast subscribers as of midnight on December 31st.
WPXI has offered Comcast an extension, including a temporary extension into 2020 that would provide Comcast subscribers with uninterrupted access to PCNC while a more permanent arrangement is worked out. Comcast has refused all such offers while failing to respond with a counterproposal. Comcast has stated it will not reconsider its decision or engage in discussions for continued carriage, even on a temporary basis, an irresponsible position that fails to consider its Pittsburgh-area customers.
Unlike national news outlets, PCNC is committed to providing local coverage for Pittsburgh. Comcast’s arbitrary decision to deny its customers access to PCNC’s local and regional weather reports could have an impact on public safety.
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Comcast’s decision will also deprive its customers of PCNC’s popular talk shows “Pittsburgh Now” and “Night Talk,” which inform and enrich the culture of our city and region by addressing matters of local concern.
PCNC is distributed to more than 3 million cable homes in the area. Apart from Comcast, no other cable companies have notified WPXI of any plans to discontinue the channel.
Kevin Hayes, Vice President and General Manager for WPXI and PCNC issued the following statement:
“We at WPXI and PCNC are very disappointed with the disruption and inconvenience to Comcast viewers that will result from Comcast’s actions, but we were informed of Comcast’s decision less than 48 hours ago.
Our priority is serving our viewers and our agreements with other distributors will remain in place. We will continue to produce content for PCNC and service to those viewers will not be interrupted.”
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