Springfield Nexstar station KSFX loses Fox affiliation

Fox has cut ties with Nexstar stations in Springfield and Fort Wayne, Ind., according to Broadcasting & Cable:

Fox Broadcasting Company has reached an affiliation agreement with Koplar Communications' KRBK in Springfield to launch a new Fox affiliate on the station's digital channel September 1, 2011.


Springfield is DMA No. 74. The deal means Fox and the current Fox affiliate in the market, Nexstar's KSFX, are cutting their ties.

Fox has also reached an agreement with Granite Broadcasting for WISE Ft. Wayne to air Fox programming in DMA No. 107 on its subchannel starting August 1, ending the relationship with Nexstar's WFFT. Like KRBK, WISE is a MyNetworkTV affiliate and will broadcast both Fox and MyNetworkTV programming. It will be promoted as MY FOX FT. WAYNE.Last month, Fox announced it and Nexstar are parting ways in Evansville, where Nexstar owns WTVW. Perry Sook, Nexstar chairman, president and CEO, has clashed with the network over payments required of affiliates that are tied to retransmission consent earnings. Sook has been one of the most visible champions for extracting retrans cash from subscription TV operators, and the networks are adamant about claiming a piece of that cash.