MEDIA
KOAT offers more clarity on where CBS programming will air
Announcement comes as KRQE moves to full-time Fox programming
KOAT-TV offered more clarity Wednesday on where viewers will find CBS programming after a fee dispute ended the 72-year run on a rival station.
KOAT will remain on channel 7 and continue carrying ABC programming, the station reported. CBS programming will be available on channel 7.4, a separate digital channel, or a secondary broadcast stream carried alongside its main signal.
CBS programming through TDS Telecom, Dish Network, DirecTV and Charter Cable will be accessible through channel 13, KOAT said. CBS for Xfinity subscribers will be available in standard definition on channel 2, with the high-definition version on channel 1002. Pe帽asco Valley Telephone Cooperative subscribers can find CBS programming on channel 10 for standard definition and channel 729 for high definition.
Lori Waldon, president and general manager of KOAT, said the station is still confirming CBS programming details for other providers, including streaming services such as YouTube TV.
Jeff Miller, KRQE鈥檚 general manager and president, was unable to clarify Thursday which channels his station will appear on for some cable and satellite customers, saying some changes are to be expected and 鈥渢hat is being done by those providers and is still being announced.鈥� He said shows such as 鈥淲heel of Fortune鈥� and 鈥淛eopardy鈥� will still air on KRQE.
鈥淭he over-the-air signal of channel 13 will remain KRQE,鈥� Miller said.
KRQE, owned by Nexstar Media Group, will become a full-time FOX affiliate 鈥� a brand it has been with since 2017 鈥� on Monday after airing CBS for 72 years. Miller said last week the switch was the result of a contract fee disagreement with Paramount, which owns CBS.
In announcing the change, KRQE said its programming lineup will include a mix of Fox network entertainment, local news and original New Mexico programming.
The Fox lineup on KRQE will feature primetime entertainment programming, NFL regular-season games of the NFC, NFL postseason coverage, college football, other major live sporting events and FOX network programming throughout the week and on weekends.
The broadcast shakeup has confused some local viewers, including Chris Lalley, a DirectTV subscriber and Albuquerque resident. On Monday, he said the transition is a mistake, especially with college football season approaching.
鈥淚鈥檝e contacted both KOAT and KRQE, and they can鈥檛 give me any satisfaction as it regards DirectTV, other satellite and cable,鈥� Lalley said.
Keelin Fisher is a business reporter for the Journal. You can reach her at kfisher@abqjournal.com.
