DirecTV and Diversified Communications are in contractual dispute over retransmission...
DirecTV and Diversified Communications are in contractual dispute over retransmission consent, blacking out WABI-TV (CBS) Bangor, Maine, and WCJB-TV (ABC) Gainesville, Fla., on the DBS channel lineup. “It’s time for Washington to cancel this program before broadcasters make 2012 the…
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year of the blackout,” said the American Television Alliance, whose members include DirecTV and which seeks new retrans rules. Diversified’s “hopeful that we can reach an agreement that will bring the stations back to DirecTV subscribers, and we will continue to work toward that end,” WABI’s website said (http://xrl.us/bnas8d). The broadcaster wants a 300 percent rate increase, DirecTV Senior Vice President Dan Hartman said. “We have no problem compensating Diversified Communications fairly,” but the broadcaster made an “unwarranted demand” which could increase subscriber bills, he said. Diversified had no immediate comment about what retrans rates it wants, and broadcasters don’t usually disclose what they're paid under individual contracts. The DBS provider “has a 99 percent success rate of keeping your favorite programs on the air,” DirecTV said (http://xrl.us/bnas9p). “In the past year, we've completed hundreds of programming agreements, covering the most popular networks, stations and shows."