Time Warner Cable customers in parts of Georgetown County were notified this week about a change to their ABC programming.
Up until now, WPDE was allowed to be on the Time Warner Cable system in the Murrells Inlet, Pawleys Island, and Debordieu areas in Georgetown County, and WCIV was allowed to be on the Time Warner cable system in parts of Horry County. In other words, customers in those areas had duplicate ABC network channels.
Because the ABC network is now enforcing what is called "network non-duplication," that will change.
After March 7th, when you turn on the WPDE channels on Time Warner Cable in Georgetown County, you will no longer be able to watch ABC programming like Good Morning America, World News Tonight, or prime time programs like Grey's Anatomy and Dancing with the Stars. For ABC programming, you will now have to watch WCIV, the ABC affiliate in Charleston.
What you will still see on WPDE is our local and syndicated programming, including our live newscasts. You will still be able to watch Holly Morgan, Jason Claspell, and Darren Stack weekday mornings from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. on Good Morning Carolinas. Allyson Floyd, Tim McGinnis, Ed Piotrowski, and Rich Chrampanis will be with you Monday through Friday at 6 p.m., 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. Lisa Edge, Mallory Nicholls, and Mark Haggard will deliver your weekend news each Saturday and Sunday at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.
You will continue to get your nationally syndicated programs provided by WPDE like, Rachael Ray, Dr. Oz, Judge Judy and Entertainment Tonight, just to name a few.
What is not yet clear, is Time Warner Cable's announcement to pull WPDE off of channel 1108 in the Waccamaw Neck of Georgetown County for those of you watching in HD with a cable box. It was our understanding that WPDE would continue to be located on channels 9, 108 and on HD channel 1108. The notification sent to customers indicated we would continue on Channel 9 and 108 but no longer be available on 1108. We are working to get that straightened out with Time Warner management in Charlotte, North Carolina. We will let you know as soon as we get confirmation from Time Warner.
We take pride in our coverage of the Waccamaw Neck area of Georgetown County, and we want you to know that our commitment will not change. Many of us live in the area and are members of the local civic clubs and churches. We participate in events in the area, we enjoy the shopping, nightlife, and all the great things the "neck" area has to offer. We will continue to be a part of your lives and will continue to report the news that makes a difference in your lives.
Click here to read a letter a Pawleys Island viewer wrote and sent to many local newspapers concerning the changes.
Click here to read a letter another Pawleys Island viewer wrote and sent to ABC.
Click here to read a statement from WPDE President and CEO Billy Huggins regarding these changes.
