Nexstar CEO: It's just a matter of time

KODE and KSNF have been off Cable One in Joplin since Jan. 1, but it won't stay that way, Nexstar CEO Perry Sook said during a breakout session at the Banc of America Securities 35th annual Investment Conference Wednesday.
"It's just a matter of time before the discussions turn more constructive," Sook said. Nexstar, which owns KSNF in Joplin and KSFX in Springfield, and is de facto owner of KODE in Joplin and KOLR in Springfield, pulled its programming off Cable One after the Washington Post-owner company refused to pay for retransmission. Traditionally, local channels have fought to be put on cable, but the territory changed with new rules that prevent the cable companies from offering network programming from another station. If Cable One wants to provide NBC and ABC programming in Joplin, it has to deal with Nexstar.
"Cox and Cable One have forced us to learn how to live without them," Sook said. "We have not lost anywhere near what they've lost." The Nexstar CEO said his company can be "a major catalyst" in forcing cable companies to pay for local content.