ELKINS — After many local residents became upset about the Optimum cable company dropping several TV channels, including WBOY in Clarksburg, in recent weeks, the channels reappeared on Optimum cable on Saturday. 

Nexstar Media Group Inc. — which owns many broadcast stations across the country, including WBOY — and Optimum reached a comprehensive partnership agreement over the weekend that restored all Nexstar programming to all of Optimum’s cable customers, according to press releases from both companies. 

On Friday, Jan. 10, local subscribers said that, without warning, Optimum canceled Nexstar. Its channels that disappeared from local subscribers’ screens included WBOY’s affiliates for CBS and NBC. The service was restored for both stations on Saturday. 

In separate press releases, both Nexstar and Optimum thank customers and viewers for being patient while the two sides worked out a new deal. Specific terms of the agreement have not yet been released to the public.

While terms of the new deal were being negotiated, both companies urged customers to reach out and voice their displeasure to the other.

Many local customers complained about the channels being removed, and the situation was brought up during last week’s Randolph County Commission meeting, when Commission President David Kesling addressed Randolph County Office of Emergency Management Director Mike Miller about the matter.

Kesling said he had received complaints from multiple Randolph County citizens, and asked if Miller knew if there was anything in place saying only one cable provider could operate in the county. 

“I don’t know of any restrictions,” said Miller. “I think the reason we only have one (cable provider) is because there has just not been any other companies around who wanted to come in and compete with what we have.”

Kesling, who is an Optimum customer, said he was also affected by the channels being removed and has had issues with the provider in the past. 

“I myself have had problems with Optimum, whether it be with service, equipment failure or whatever,” he said. “As of right now no other providers have contacted us about wanting to be here, but we can always look into it and see what is out there.”

There are currently no laws in West Virginia that limit the number of cable providers in a county. 

West Virginia law states that cable franchises are nonexclusive. This means that multiple cable providers can operate in the same area.