Cable One and Disney Channel officials have negotiated anagreement that will keep Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and othersaround after Dec. 31, local cable television service officialssaid.

“We are very pleased that our negotiations have reached asuccessful resolution,” said Bobby McCool, general manager for theBrookhaven, McComb and Natchez Cable One offices. “We have heardfrom many of our customers who were reluctant to see the DisneyChannel replaced. This solution means that Disney programming willcontinue to be enjoyed by its loyal viewers.”

Citing increased programming costs, Cable One earlier announcedplans to drop the Disney Channel from its lineup on Dec. 31. CableOne officials said they could no longer afford the total cost ofprogramming because it might mean excessive rate increases forcustomers.

“We were concerned that ongoing increases would prevent us fromkeeping monthly cable rates as reasonable as we would like for ourcustomers,” McCool said. “Our current agreement, though, will helpus continue to work toward that objective.”

The resolution means no immediate rate increase, but Cable Oneannually reviews and adjusts its rates in early summer, officialssaid.

Following announcement of its earlier plans, Cable One hadsought customer input on alternatives to the Disney Channel. JulliaIvey, marketing manager, said negotiations to get other channelsare continuing in the event that channel space becomesavailable.