OTTUMWA — Iowa State Cyclone fans in southern Iowa without satellite television may be out of luck if they were hoping to watch the Insight Bowl at home this evening.
According to a press release issued late Tuesday night from Mediacom, the cable company was informed last week by WOI-TV, the ABC affiliate in Des Moines, that “broadcast exhibition rights for the Insight Bowl are limited to the television station’s Designated Market Area (DMA) which extends to viewers in and around Des Moines, Ames and communities in surrounding areas of central and west-central Iowa.”
Wapello and Davis counties and other areas in southern Iowa are not considered to be part of the Des Moines DMA for viewing purposes with respect to WOI-TV, according to the press release.
Communties including Ottumwa, Eddyville, Bloomfield and surrounding areas are categorized as part of the Ottumwa-Kirksville DMA. Broadcast rights for today’s game “specifically prohibits WOI-TV to extend its telecasts to areas other than the Des Moines DMA. The prohibition includes broadcasts carried over Mediacom, as well as any other cable network.”
According to the distribution rights granted to WOI-TV by the NFL Network, “any cable system serving communities outside the DMA must delete the Insight Bowl telecast from the Primary Signal of WOI-TV as delivered to the cable system’s subscribers.”
For some southern Iowa communities, Mediacom includes two ABC stations on its lineup — KTVO as the primary station for the Ottumwa-Kirksville DMA; and as a secondary channel, WOI-TV from the Des Moines DMA.
“While we regret that the viewing area is limited to the Des Moines television market, we understand that the program owner, NFL Network, controls the retransmission rules, and that we must be in strict compliance. These are similar to blackout rules that often apply to professional sports broadcasts, and they apply to all video distributors that don’t carry the sports network,” said Mediacom Spokeswoman Phyllis Peters.
A message left for WOI-TV President and COO Ray Cole was not returned to the Courier by press time Wednesday.
Ottumwa and Bloomfield cable subscribers are not alone in their frustration.
Fairfield and Sigourney cable subscribers, who receive KCRG-TV, the Cedar Rapids ABC affiliate, will not see the game either.
According to KCRG, the station asked the NFL Network for permission to show the game in eastern Iowa. The NFL Network said it was only letting WOI-TV carry the game because that’s ISU’s “home TV market.”
It’s not all bad news for Cyclone fans.
Some in southern Iowa will see the game tonight if they are satellite subscribers, like DirecTV or the Dish Network — both offer the NFL Network.
And some area bars/restaurants that also have satellite service will make sure fans can see the game there.
Steve Palen said his establishment, Courtside Bar & Grill in Ottumwa, will air the ISU-Minnesota game, which begins at 5 p.m. tonight.
“We’ve had a lot of inquiries into the game,” he said. “Ever since they announced [ISU] was going to the Insight Bowl, we’ve had calls.”
Palen said he understands the frustration of Cyclone fans who want to enjoy the game in the comfort of their own homes.
“In this day and age, for it not to be available to everyone ... it’s a shame,” he said. “But we’re going to try and accomodate people the best we can.”
Jeff Hutton can be reached at 683-5380 or via e-mail at jeff@ottumwacourier.com
Local News
A TV drama for ISU fans
Southern Iowans may have to make other plans if they want to watch the Insight Bowl
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