Relax: You’ll (probably) get to see the Super Bowl

That’s basically what’s happening in the Super Bowl-threatening dispute between Cox Communications and the owners of KLAS-TV, Channel 8: Two dinosaurs, neither of which are long for this world, are fighting over scraps.

Yes, Cox subscribers, you’re both “scraps” and annoying kids in this analogy. Sorry about that.

Both sides are locked in an increasingly bitter spat over how much the cable giant will pay Texas-based Nexstar Broadcasting Group for the right to retransmit nine of its stations, including KLAS.

Their existing agreement expired at 11:59 p.m. Friday, which is why there’s a good chance you aren’t receiving Channel 8.

If the impasse hasn’t been resolved by 3:30 p.m. Feb 7, local Cox subscribers won’t be able to watch Super Bowl 50.

It likely won’t come to that, because neither side, however greedy, wants to be connected with that much viewer rage.

So why is this happening?

1) It’s the cost of doing business. In 2015 alone, in addition to countless disputes that went down to the wire, there were at least eight instances involving 198 local stations being removed from cable and satellite providers for anywhere from a few hours to three weeks. At least two of those disputes that resulted in blackouts were resolved because of the NFL. After four days, the Fort Myers, Fla., NBC affiliate returned to DirecTV moments before a Green Bay-Denver game. And Salt Lake City’s NBC affiliate reached an agreement to end its three-week standoff with DirecTV two days after angry viewers missed the New England-Pittsburgh game.

2) Consolidation. A year ago, this probably wouldn't have happened. Nexstar bought KLAS from Landmark Media Enterprises in a $145 million deal that closed Feb. 13, 2015. As a one-station company, there’s little reason to think Landmark would have had either the clout or the desire for such a dispute. But as a broadcasting conglomerate that’s swallowing everything in its path — there’s a reason Nexstar is referred to within the industry as Death Star — the station’s new owner is in much better position for a fight. And it’s only going to get worse: On Wednesday, Nexstar agreed to acquire Media General Inc. for $4.6 billion, giving it control of 171 stations in 100 markets.

3) Money. Not only do companies like Nexstar have to finance these acquisitions, cable companies could be facing a loss of $20 billion a year. Earlier this week, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler announced a proposal to open up the development of cable boxes to the free market. Under this plan, outside manufacturers would be able to build better, cheaper devices and put an end to cable’s monopoly that, he said, leaves customers paying an average of $231 a year to rent the devices.

4) Technology. Going back to that dinosaur analogy, cable and satellite operators as well as local station owners are struggling to fight off extinction. Network-owned apps give viewers access to many of their programs the next day. In addition to the rise of cord-cutters — viewers who’ve given up cable and satellite in favor of streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon — there’s a rise in “cord-nevers.” An October study from Forrester Research found that 18 percent of Americans have never paid for cable or satellite. That report estimated that by 2025, half of all viewers younger than 32 wouldn’t be paying for traditional service. There’s basically a very short window for both sides to make as much money as they can.

If a blackout were to stretch through the weekend, Cox customers would miss some golf and new episodes of “60 Minutes,” “Madam Secretary,” “The Good Wife” and “CSI: Cyber.” Any later, and it will mess with “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune.” But aside from a new episode of “The Big Bang Theory” on Thursday, most of CBS’ biggest shows — including “Criminal Minds,” “Blue Bloods” and all 37 “NCIS”es — are in reruns or are being pre-empted this week.

Should the unthinkable happen and this situation linger through the Super Bowl, you obviously have choices. Go to any bar, restaurant or sports book. Find a friend who gets KLAS through another service provider. Stream it at CBSSports.com. Or buy a digital antenna: Wal-Mart has a model for $9.88; Target offers one for $10.99; Best Buy starts them at $12.99.

Sure, it’s a last resort. But it’s better than wishing either side gets richer out of this nonsense.

— Contact Christopher Lawrence at clawrence@reviewjournal.com. On Twitter: @life_onthecouch