WSFA Channel 12, the NBC affiliate out of Montgomery, announced Tuesday that it will be going off the air in Demopolis, Sweet Water, Marion and Providence at midnight Dec. 31.

That’s because Demopolis CATV and Sky Cablevision are dropping the station from cable lineups.

“This station’s parent company, Raycom Media, has been attempting to reach agreements with a number of cable companies in our viewing area,” said a press release issued by WSFA. “Many of those agreements have been resolved. The remaining contracts expire at midnight on Dec. 31. Demopolis CATV and Sky Cablevision are among a handful of cable companies that have not yet come to terms with Raycom to keep WSFA on their channel lineup in 2009.”

Lynn Goldman, president of Demopolis CATV, confirmed there would be some changes in programming.

“Through the transition to digital, we are having to change some of our local channels our consumers receive,” said Goldman. “We are losing three local channels, but gaining more from other local areas.”

Demopolis CATV will no longer carry WSFA as well as WBRC Fox-6 in Birmingham and WDBB TV-17 in Tuscaloosa.

It will pick up WMDN TV-24 CBS in Meridian, MyTV in Meridian and CW in Meridian. It also will add WGBC TV-30 NBC in Meridian, Fox Meridian and MyTV Meridian to its high-definition digital lineup.

The other local stations already offered will remain the same. They are WGBC TV-7 NBC in Meridian, WCFT TV-33 ABC in Tuscaloosa, WAKA TV-8 CBS in Selma/Montgomery, Fox in Meridian, and WTOK TV-11 ABC in Meridian.

Most of the changes in programming will be in effect in January.

“Some of them will be operating on lower signal strength until Feb. 17,” said Goldman. “They will all be up to full power by then.”

WSFA stated that viewers can pick up their broadcast through a satellite TV service.