GCI IS FIGHTING TO KEEP YOUR RATES REASONABLE

An update on our negotiations with Vision Alaska and Coastal Television

Read our email to customers

Our contract with Vision Alaska and Coastal Television expired at 5:00 p.m. on December 31, 2020. This affects the local broadcast stations ABC, FOX, and CW (it does not affect the national cable networks, like Fox News, Fox Business, Fox Sports 1, and Fox Sports 2, which are separately owned). We are still negotiating with Vision Alaska and Coastal Television to resume carrying these channels, but they are asking for a nearly 40% rate increase that is not the best outcome for GCI and our valued TV customers. Because we did not reach a deal by the deadline, they have pulled our right to continue bringing these channels to our customers. We are working hard to come to a reasonable agreement to restore these channels and will be offering bill credits to eligible customers.* Thank you for your support and patience as we work through this process and fight to keep your rates down.

*Courtesy credits will apply to individual residential and small business customers who were subscribers to the affected channels as of January 1, 2021. GCI employees, bulk/hotel customers, and landlord-provided services are not eligible for credits. Customers will see credits appear online within the next few weeks, or on your next invoice.

What’s Happening?

Vision Alaska and Coastal Television have taken away some of your TV channels because we refused to pay unreasonable rate increases for their content.

Each year, GCI negotiates numerous contracts with programmers so that we can provide our customers with access to the television shows, movies, and sports they love. GCI pays a fee for every channel we carry, and every year, those fees increase. GCI has already successfully completed negotiations for more than 60 networks in 2020. GCI tries to negotiate reasonable rates that help keep costs low for customers but sometimes programmers propose costs that are unrealistically high. In those cases when GCI cannot negotiate a more reasonable rate and an agreed upon rate is not reached, the network will pull the channel from our customers until its demands are met. 

In this case, Vision Alaska and Coastal Television, the Alaska operators of ABC, FOX, and CW have been asking for outrageous fee hikes across multiple channels that would ultimately contribute to higher costs for GCI TV customers. We are working to secure reasonable terms to bring back these channels.  

Which channels are impacted?

How can I watch my ABC, FOX, and CW programs in the meantime while they are off the air? 

One option is to consider video streaming services. Both YouTube and Hulu offer live TV programming from these channels and often have free trials for a period of time.

Free video streaming trials are offered directly from streaming providers and not offered from GCI.

Another option that may be available if you live in an area with an over-the-air signal like Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau, is that you may be able to access the local stations using an antenna. In addition, many of the FOX shows are already available via other networks and services:

• College Football: Big Ten, FS1, SEC, ESPN, ABC, PAC12, Eleven Sports
• NFL Football: Superbowl is on CBS and NFL Network also replays games during the week. Alternate ways to watch and listen to Seahawks games. 
• Hell’s Kitchen: Hulu
• Bob’s Burgers: TBS, episodes online, Hulu
• Family Guy: Hulu, Netflix (past seasons)
• The Simpsons: FXX, Hulu 
• Ghosted: Hulu 
• The Last Man on Earth: Hulu 
• Grey’s Anatomy: Hulu, YouTube TV
• The Good Doctor: Hulu, YouTube TV
• Big Bang Theory: TBS, CBS