The picture is still fuzzy and discussions are ongoing concerning Bangor low-power station WCKD’s attempt to switch affiliation from United Paramount Network to the Fox Network in time to fill the void left by Maine’s only Fox affiliate.

WCKD (Channel 30, Adelphia cable channel 10) is attempting to get out of its five-year affiliation deal with UPN in the wake of Portland station WPXT’s decision to drop Fox to try and attract younger viewers by switching to the Warner Brothers Network.

“I’m not really at liberty to talk about anything right now, but discussions are ongoing,” said Mitch Lambert, general manager of Bangor’s WVII (Ch. 7), which operates and programs WCKD as part of a local-marketing arrangement with Bangor’s WBGR.

Lambert said new information may come out as early as today.

No matter how things are resolved, at least one problem appears to have been solved as WBGR (Ch. 33) president and co-owner James McLeod has offered to air any Major League Baseball playoff broadcasts WVII may not be able to clear due to UPN programming obligations.

“We let them know we’d be glad to take any of the games they can’t clear,” McLeod said.

WBGR is a PAX Network affiliate, but that won’t preclude it from airing games, even on weeknights.

“”With Pax, we’re open-ended as far as our scheduling,” McLeod explained, adding that PAX programs conflicting with baseball can be recorded and aired at a later time or date. “We’ve made our name filling a niche in this market and it’s because of our cooperative relationships with WVII and WABI [Ch. 5] in the past that have made things like this possible.”

Lambert prefers to have the games on WCKD, but he said WBGR’s offer is a definite option.

“One way or the other, the games will be on the air in this market,” Lambert said.

Meanwhile, officials at the Fox Network are proceeding ahead with plans to turn off the signal to WPXT and turn it on for WCKD.

“We’re moving forward with the switch and that will take place on October 7 [Sunday],” said Inae Joe, Fox director of network affiliation. “As far as I know, that’s when they’re switching. If there’s going to be a problem, they have to let us know as soon as possible before then.”

Officials at UPN had even less to say about WCKD’s situation.

“There’s nothing new,” said UPN vice president of affiliations Steve Carlston, who said last week he fully expected WCKD to fulfill its current contract through 2005. “We’re in discussions right now. That’s all that I can even tell you.”

No matter who WCKD is affiliated with by the end of the week, the ongoing situation will not impact Fox’s weekend NFL broadcasts on WCKD as they do not conflict with UPN programming all affiliates are expected to air.

Walsh funeral coverage nixed

Bangor television stations WABI (Channel 5) and WLBZ (Ch. 2) had serious designs on broadcasting Saturday’s funeral for University of Maine hockey coach Shawn Walsh, but both had to abandon their efforts for different reasons.

“We talked about it, but we decided against it,” said Judy Horan, WLBZ’s general manager. “Even though he was a very public person, we thought this was a fairly private affair.”

Instead, WLBZ and Portland sister station WCSH (Ch. 6) aired a special 6 p.m. newscast Friday on Walsh and included extensive coverage of the funeral on Saturday’s newscasts.

“We did look into it, but it became apparent there wasn’t a whole lot of time to put it together,” said WABI program director Steve Hiltz. “His family felt it was important to have it on for folks who couldn’t be there, but logistics made it impossible.”

WABI also provided extensive coverage of the weekend ceremonies honoring Walsh during its newscasts.

Andrew Neff’s On the air column is published each Tuesday. He can be reached at 990-8205, 1-800-310-8600, or at aneff@bangordailynews.net.