News
DIRECTV Could Lose 20 Fox Cable
Channels
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 21,
2011) -- DIRECTV could lose the
right to carry Fox's cable channels including FX, National
Geographic and 19 regional sports networks, on November 1 unless
the two sides reach a new programming pact by then.
Fox last night issued a statement saying that it
offered DIRECTV an extension to carry the channels after
November 1 if the two sides didn't reach a deal by then. But Fox
says "DIRECTV has informed us and their customers that unless we
agree to their demand, they will suspend our networks on
November 1."
DRIECTV CEO Mike White also issued a statement saying News Corp,
which owns Fox, is demanding that DIRECTV pay nearly 40 percent
more for the channels in question. "If a new deal is not
reached, we will be forced to suspect the channels as early as
Nov. 1," the company said.
The channels that could go off DIRECTV's airwaves are: FX,
National Geographic Channel, Speed, Fuel TV, Fox Movie Channel,
Fox Deportes, Fox Soccer and 19 regional sports channels. Local
Fox channels and Fox News are not part of the dispute. (Note:
DIRECTV's web site is saying that only 13 regional sports
channels would be affected.)
The current agreement to carry the channels expired on September
30, but Fox granted an extension at that time so the channels
could stay on the air while negotiations continued.
However, it appears that DIRECTV is no longer willing to accept
extensions.
DIRECTV has launched a web site, OurPromiseToYou.com, to keep
subscribers informed of the latest in the negotiations. At the
web site, DIRECTV claims that it has resolved similar
programming disputes 99 percent of the time in under a month
while the industry average for such disputes in that time frame
is 80 percent.
Fox reportedly has also launched a web site, KeepMyNets.com, to
defend its position. However, the web site was offline this
morning.
Fox and Dish Network engaged in a similar fee fight at this time
last year over the right to carry FX, National Geographic and
the regional sports networks. The dispute was settle roughly a
month after the channels were removed from Dish's airwaves.
