Cox cable Channel 13 KOLD off the air

Wick News Service

TUCSON — Cox cable customers who tried to tune in to the television station KOLD Channel 13 on Tuesday found the station was off the air.

A message on the KOLD television website explains that Cox and KOLD parent, Raycom, were unable to reach an agreement on a retransmission contract by Dec. 31 and Cox cut off the station.

“Since October, 2012, we have been working to resolve this matter, but so far have been unable to reach an agreement with Cox Cable for the continued carriage of KOLD-TV,” the company’s statement on its website explains.

“This is particularly disappointing because all the other TV providers in our area have Agreements with us and those Agreements are fundamentally similar to the one we have been negotiating with Cox Cable.”

Raycom renewed its contract with Comcast, so that service was unaffected.

Cox’s website said Raycome is asking for a 220 percent increase over its current rate.

As a result, on Tuesday Jan. 1, Cox Cable customers lost access to KOLD-TV News 13 and MeTV Southern Arizona.