WFXT FOX 25 today announced that despite prolonged negotiations, it appears that DIRECTV will stop carrying the station starting at Midnight Pacific Time on New Year’s Eve. As a result, WFXT will no longer be seen by DIRECTV subscribers as of January 1, 2017.
WFXT FOX 25 today announced that despite prolonged negotiations, it appears that DIRECTV will stop carrying the station starting at Midnight Pacific Time on New Year’s Eve. As a result, WFXT will no longer be seen by DIRECTV subscribers as of January 1, 2017.
FOX 25 is currently found on Channel 25 for DIRECTV customers.
Tom Raponi, Vice-President and General Manager of WFXT issued the following statement:
“I am disappointed that my company and DIRECTV appear to be reaching an impasse that could lead to a disruption in WFXT’s service for DIRECTV subscribers. In just the past few weeks, we have reached agreement with some of the largest video distributors in the country. At this point, every distributor besides DIRECTV has reached a long-term agreement to continue carrying WFXT. DIRECTV is the lone holdout.”
“We are asking only that DIRECTV offer a fair deal that adequately values WFXT’s award-winning news, sports, entertainment, weather and traffic programming. The fees cable and satellite companies pay us go fund these important local services. Accepting unreasonable fees from DIRECTV would lead to less local news, less local sports, less local weather, and less community involvement by WFXT”
“DIRECTV’s size and market power lets it ignore individual communities like Boston and deprive viewers of programming they need in order to improve their bottom line. Now AT&T/DIRECTV wants to get even bigger by merging with Time Warner, which provides national cable programming but no local content. If AT&T’s assault on local TV continues, Washington may need to step in and stop that merger.”
“As it stands now, DIRECTV’s authority to carry WFXT will expire at 3am Eastern Standard Time on New Year’s Day. WFXT cannot force DIRECTV to strike a deal that keeps WFXT’s programming on DIRECTV channel lineups after that deadline. Viewers should keep in mind that WFXT’s programming will remain available for viewers over the air, and that this dispute will not affect customers of a video provider other than DIRECTV.”
