WCVB Pulled From Berkshire TV Lineups; Lawmakers Petition For It Back

Spectrum is pulling WCVB Boston, Channel 5, from its lineup and Berkshire lawmakers, are petitioning to get the station back.

iBerkshires.com reports Wednesday morning the station went dark on many televisions across the county.

The change follows the removal of WWLP Channel 22 from the lineup last year.

Now, state Rep. John Barrett and state Sen. Adam Hinds are calling on the company to bring the stations back.

The cable lineup has been an ongoing battle in Berkshire County.

On multiple occasions, Spectrum's predecessor Time Warner Cable sought to pull NECN from the lineup and each time residents and politicians fought to keep it on.

The move also follows a switch to encrypted digital signals, which triggered outrage from community television organizations who saw channels relocated and from residents who had to switch to digital boxes that also cost more.