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Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009

WPGA severing ties with ABC network

WPGA is dropping its affiliation with the ABC network, leaving the local FOX affiliate to add ABC to a new channel, a WPGA official said today.

Lowell Register, president of WPGA, said the changes will come at midnight Jan. 1, when his station becomes independent. Viewers will still see syndicated favorites such as Martha Stewart, but they won’t see ABC programming such as “Good Morning America” and its primetime lineup, Register said.

Register said he’s been having more disagreements with ABC over its programming, though he declined to give specific examples. He said many of the ABC soap operas are too risque. WPGA is one of the last family-owned television stations in the nation.

“I had somebody tell me they’re running a good bit of gay and lesbian stuff on it, that’s really just in-your-face so to speak, and I’m not sure that’s appropriate. That’s happening in prime time,” he said. “I’m not really happy with it.”

Register said he had heard WGXA, known as FOX 24, would keep its FOX affiliation and begin broadcasting ABC on a new digital channel.

Officials with FOX 24, ABC and the company that owns FOX 24 have not returned messages seeking comment.

Register said his staff is evaluating other networks’ offerings and more syndicated programming.

“There’s just too many positive things for us to continue with ABC,” he said. “Hopefully we can do better things than they do, especially with the Macon market.”

For more on the story, read Friday’s Telegraph.

To contact writer Mike Stucka, call 744-4251.