DirecTV and Fox avert channel blackout
A recent carriage dispute between DirecTV and Fox, led to threats that DirecTV would black out channels like Fuel and…
A recent carriage dispute between DirecTV and Fox, led to threats that DirecTV would black out channels like Fuel and FX that were going to be carrying UFC content. Now the NY Times is reporting that the Direct TV-Fox dispute was resolved a day prior to a threatened blackout of Fox regional sports networks, FX, Fuel and other Fox-owned cable channels.
Representatives for DirecTV and News Corporation said Monday evening that they had averted a looming blackout of regional sports networks, FX and other Fox-owned cable channels.
After warring in public for a week and a half, the two companies said they had come to a new contract agreement.
We both know the past ten days have been challenging, but we’re pleased that both sides could eventually come together to ensure our viewers continue to enjoy Fox programming, the companies said in a joint statement.
Such spats are usually resolved close to the self-imposed deadlines, but occasionally they do result in blackouts; Fox network programming was removed from Cablevision’s systems for two weeks last October.
DirecTV is the second-biggest pay television operator in the United States, behind Comcast, with more than 19 million subscribers.
News Corporation had proposed higher rates for a bundle of channels that, in addition to FX and 19 regional sports networks, also included Speed, Fox Soccer, Fox Deportes, Fuel, Fox Movie Channel, and the National Geographic Channel.
DirecTV publicly resisted the higher rates proposed by News Corporation.