Mediacom Adds Alternate CBS Affiliate in Iowa City

By Jon Ellis, Producer

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By Jon Ellis

Story Created: Dec 12, 2006 at 11:00 PM CST

Story Updated: Dec 12, 2006 at 11:20 PM CST

IOWA CITY - Amid a retransmission dispute with Sinclair Broadcasting, Mediacom has announced plans to add Quad Cities CBS affiliate WHBF to its Iowa City-area cable system beginning January 2, 2007.

Sinclair owns Cedar Rapids CBS affiliate KGAN/2, which could leave Mediacom's system on January 5, 2007, unless the two sides reach a deal.

FCC rules allow Mediacom to carry WHBF in Iowa City because the station as "significantly viewed" in Johnson County. Regulations allow cable systems to carry out-of-market network affiliates if the stations are significantly viewed or if the cable system is a certain distance from the in-market affiliate.

Mediacom also carries a second CBS affiliate on its Dubuque system, from Madison, Wis., because it is far enough from KGAN.

However, it appears Mediacom does not have any other options for CBS in Cedar Rapids and Waterloo, or for FOX in Des Moines and Ames, where Sinclair's KDSM/17 is the affiliate.

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