Advanced Television

DirecTV in more retransmission rows

July 18, 2016

By Chris Forrester

Saturday night entertainment for NBC viewers on July 16th in the Boston region was not much fun for DirecTV subscribers which had removed the local NBC affiliates. A similar squabble is affecting WSVN, Channel 7 in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area of Florida.

WHDH Channel 7 and WLVI Channel 56 went dark following a breakdown between station executives and AT&T-owned DirecTV on July 15th. “Unfortunately, negotiations were not successful,” WHDH general manager Paul Magnes said.

The two stations are owned by Sunbeam Television, and AT&T spokeswoman Kate MacKinnon said: “Sunbeam has temporarily suspended its stations from our customers several times before, so we appreciate their patience as we work to resolve this matter quickly, reasonably, and with the least possible inconvenience.”

Sunbeam and DirecTV had a similar spat back in 2012 which led to a two-week suspension, only resolved on the eve of that year’s SuperBowl.

Miami’s WSVN Channel 7, is a Fox-affiliated station based in Miami and reaches down the Florida coast as far as Key West. It is also owned by Sunbeam.

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