This coming Saturday, the Oklahoma Sooners will play their highest profile, more anticipated game of the season, against Ohio State in Columbus. And because of a dispute between Cox Communications and Oklahoma City ABC affiliate KOCO-TV, huge swaths of the Sooner State might be unable to watch.
Update: Cox and KOCO reached a deal Wednesday:
College football fans rejoice: Dispute between Cox-Hearst TV stations (KOCO) resolved. #Sooners-Ohio State game will be available on Cox
— Ryan Aber (@ryaber) September 6, 2017
Original post follows:
KOCO announced this week that it has “reached an impasse with Cox,” after the parties failed to reach an agreement despite a five-day deadline extension. According to Ryan Aber of The Oklahoman, Cox stopped carrying KOCO as of 9:15 p.m. CT on Tuesday night.
The latest
“We are disappointed that Cox has refused our customary offer to extend our agreement, especially during this period of severe weather,” KOCO wrote on its site. “As a local broadcaster, we are keenly aware of the importance of serving our local viewers during times like these. Our stations work diligently every day to provide access to important news and weather, as well as vital emergency information. Our commitment to the local communities we serve will continue regardless of this impasse.”
Though football is obviously not the most important thing that Cox-customers will miss with KOCO off their dials, many Oklahomans will undoubtedly be displeased that the game against Ohio State is unavailable to them. News and weather is available on various channels, as well as online, but there’s only one place to watch Sooners-Buckeyes.
This impasse will affect more than a few would-be viewers. Cox has a major presence in Oklahoma, and per the OU Daily, all University of Oklahoma dorms have Cox services.
KOCO points out that Cox customers can still watch the game if they acquire an antenna. Either that or try to find a bar with a different cable package.
Regardless, Cox and KOCO have until 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday to work this out. If they don’t, a whole lot of Oklahomans will be extremely angry.
