Fox, DirecTV reach agreement
November 1, 2011
Fox Networks and DirecTV have reached an agreement for DirecTV to continue carrying all Fox Networks (including FX, National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, SPEED, FUEL TV, FOX Soccer, FOX Soccer Plus and FOX Deportes), Fox’s regional sports networks, Fox Broadcasting (FOX), the FOX local stations, Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network.
In a joint statement, the pair say: “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.”
Earlier in October, DirecTV CEO Mike White claimed that Fox parent News Corp. had demanded that “DirecTV customers pay nearly 40 per cent more for the same channels they already received. If a new deal is not reached, we will be forced to suspend the channels as early as November 1st.”
Fox’s response noted that “DirecTV sent us a proposal …. they have given us no chance to respond before taking an unnecessarily aggressive posture and going public. It is disappointing that they have chosen bad faith tactics over meaningful negotiation.”
Fox said it proposed to allow DirecTV to continue to carry its networks for the current price and terms while negotiations continue. “Unfortunately, DirecTV has decided that unless they get their way, they are going to pull the plug on their customers.”
DirecTV responded: “After months of making little progress in our talks with News Corp. and Fox to renew our agreement to carry their regional sports networks and other national channels we’ve regrettably reached a point where we will be forced to suspend the channels as soon as Nov. 1 unless News Corp. is willing to move toward a more reasonable price increase.”
More recently, DirecTV complained to the FCC about Fox advertising related to their cable programming dispute. The satellite operator claimeds that Fox was “using misleading advertising informing DirecTV customers that “soon, in some markets, you may lose your local Fox station,’ even though our retransmission consent agreement does not expire for over two months.”