WRDE blocked out of local FiOS market

WRDE President and General Manager Bob Backman is struggling to find answers as to why his station will not be picked up by Verizon FiOS.

Since going on the air in June 2014, Delmarva's local NBC affiliate has been picked up by every major cable and satellite provider, except Verizon FiOS. While FiOS's local customer base – about 2,700 subscribers – pales in comparison to its competitors, Backman said, its customers are fervid in their desire for a local NBC station.

“People call me and email me every day,” he said. “I don't have an answer for them.”

FiOS is offered in the Long Neck area, with a small finger of subscribers reaching out toward Rehoboth Beach. Comcast dominates the market, with about 109,000 subscribers.

Before going on the air, Backman said, he had successful meetings with DirectTV, Comcast, Dish and Mediacom. A meeting with Verizon went well too, or at least Backman thought it did, but to date they've had no success in being added to the local offerings.

“I expected it to take some time or for there to be at least some negotiations, but no discussion? I still don't understand,” he said.

Backman said he is working with a cable consultant who is trying to make progress with Verizon, but to date he has had little luck. Backman hopes a scheduled meeting with a FiOS representative at the National Association of Broadcasters Convention later this month will result in some headway.

Verizon representatives declined to comment on the situation with WRDE.

WRDE broadcasts in in the Salisbury, Md., designated market area, which encompasses Sussex County and Wicomico, Worcester, Dorchester and Somerset counties in Maryland. Kent County is considered the Philadelphia market.

Prior to WRDE, the Cape Region's local NBC affiliate was WBAL out of Baltimore. Over the last year, Backman said, WRDE has been embraced by the local market; Comcast has moved the out-of-town NBC stations out of the main broadcasting tier.

Backman said he hopes WRDE will soon be available to FiOS subscribers. For more information about WRDE, go to www.wrdetv.com.