FETV has gone dark for Comcast customers in the Chicagoland area, the network told Cord Cutters News on Tuesday.
The network’s CEO, Drew Sumrall, slammed the decision in an emailed statement.
“This is industry dysfunction playing out in real time,” Sumrall told Cord Cutters News. “A few large companies have created an ecosystem full of walled gardens with little to no competition, and then they complain about skyrocketing network fees and [retransmission] costs to the FCC—all while raising prices for the consumer.”
The network took to X, formerly Twitter, shortly after asking Comcast customers to call the provider and demand the channel be kept in the lineup.
This comes after FETV, or the Family Entertainment Television network, received notice of termination in certain markets last December. Prior to the network’s confirmation, Cord Cutters News readers had spotted a scrolling message on FETV that said Comcast may drop the network.
At the time, Sumrall criticized Comcast’s “unfair terms,” and accused the cable company of wanting independent networks “drowned out while mega-companies drive up costs for every consumer.”
“Comcast continues to receive tens of thousands of phone calls from their own customers demanding FETV stay in their lineup,” Sumrall said.
Sumrall said that as of January 2, FETV isn’t seeking a license fee from Comcast.
FETV features classic programming like Leave it to Beaver, Bewitched, and Perry Mason. Here’s a list of providers that still offer FETV:
- DIRECTV: Channel 323
- DISH: Channel 82
- AT&T U-Verse: Channel 578
- Verizon Fios: Channel 245
- Frontier Communications: Channel 155
- Comcast Xfinity and Spectrum: Check your local listings
- Sling: Comedy Extra
- FreeCast: Value TV
- Vidigo: English Lineup
- Frndly TV: All plans
- Altafiber: Channel 243 and channel 643
- Optimum: Channel 175
- Philo: All plans
Comcast wasn’t immediately available for comment.
Image credit: FETV