LIN, DirecTV Reach Retransmission Consent Pact
Agreements Covers Analog, HD Feeds For Stations Covering 15 DMAs
By Mike Reynolds -- Multichannel News, 6/9/2008 12:05:00 PM
DirecTV and LIN TV Corp. have reached a retransmission consent agreement covering stations in 15 markets.
The deal, terms of which were not disclosed, covers the following LIN stations in both analog and high-definition format: KRQE and KASA Albuquerque; KXAN, KNVA and KBVO Austin; WIVB and WNLO Buffalo; WDTN Dayton; WANE Ft. Wayne; WOOD, WOTV and WXSP Grand Rapids; WLUK Green Bay; WTNH and WCTX Hartford-New Haven; WISH and WNDY Indianapolis; WALA and WBPG Mobile; WAVY and WVBT Norfolk; WPRI and WNAC Providence; WWLP Springfield and WUPW Toledo.
The agreement comes as LIN is engaged in a retransmission consent dispute with Charter Communications, with the station group owner saying talks with the operator have broken down. LIN, which owns about 11 stations in seven markets in Charter territory — in Grand Rapids, Mich.; Green Bay, Wis.; Hartford-New Haven, Conn.; Springfield, Mass.; Dayton and Toledo, Ohio; and Providence, R.I. — said its current deal with Charter is scheduled to expire June 30.
Relative to the deal with DirecTV, LIN president and CEO Vincent Sadusky said in a statement: “We are pleased with the outcome of our negotiations. Our stations are leaders in their markets and we’ve made substantial investments to bring our viewers high-definition digital programming. The agreement reflects fair value to both parties and is in the best interest of the consumer.”
Added DirecTV senior vice president of programming Dan Hartman: “With this agreement, DirecTV will continue to enhance its industry leading HD offer, enabling us to add more HD channels in existing DirecTV HD local markets and set the stage for roll out of more HD local channels this fall. We’re extremely happy with this agreement that is both beneficial for our business and our customers.”
