Every three years, local television stations negotiate new contracts with local cable companies to carry their signals. After weeks of negotiating for 2009, the majority of cable customers will continue to be able to watch all their favorite ABC programs like normal. But negotiations have not been successful with Golden West Communications.

There are roughly 7,300 Golden West cable customers in communities like Dell Rapids, Hartford, Winner and Parkston, but at midnight on December 31st, Golden West Communications plans to pull the plug on KSFY programming.

KSFY general manager Kelly Manning says negotiating a fee to retransmit programming is about more than KSFY news. All ABC shows such as Lost, Dancing With The Stars, and Grey's Anatomy as well as syndicated shows like Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy, are all part of the deal.

"Each week, 90 of the top 100 programs are all on a broadcast network such as ABC, CBS, NBC or FOX," Manning said. "So the local stations are those most viewed by each cable company."

The major networks are all free to view over the air, but Manning says stations have begun charging cable companies a fee in recent years because they profit off retransmitting all those shows.

"The perspective we come from is, 'Yes, it is free tv.' If you call the cable company though, and ask them for the free package, they've never offered that," Manning said.

KSFY has been negotiating fees with several cable providers in the past few weeks, and Manning says the station has come to verbal or written agreements with every one except golden west. He says the other offers were more reasonable.

"Golden West has made offers that are substantially less than most of the market," Manning said. "And it just wouldn't be right to draft an agreement with them that we wouldn't with anyone else."

If you are a Golden West customer and would like to continue watching ABC programming, please call Golden West Communications at 605-279-2161. Or email Rick Reed at rickreed@goldenwest.com.