Cox-DirecTV Retrans Talks Down To Wire

On Wednesday night, Cox Media Group’s television stations began notifying their viewers of a potential service disruption involving AT&T U-Verse and DirecTV.

CMG’s retransmission consent agreements for subscribers to those services expire at 11:59 p.m. PT Time on Dec. 31, and a new agreement has not yet been reached.

This disruption could affect AT&T U-Verse and DirecTV subscribers in Atlanta (WSB); Boston (WFXT); Charlotte, N.C. (WSOC and WAXN); Dayton, Ohio (WHIO); Jacksonville, Fla. (WFOX); Memphis (WHBQ); Orlando, Fla. (WFTV and WRDQ); Pittsburgh (WPXI); Seattle (KIRO); and Tulsa, Okla. (KOKI and KMYT).

CMG said it “has successfully negotiated retransmission consent agreements with every cable and satellite programmer that carries its stations across the country with the exception of AT&T U-Verse and DirecTV.

“The parties continue to negotiate and CMG is committed to working around the clock to preserve service for all of its viewers. At the same time, CMG feels a responsibility to let its viewers know of the potential impending service disruption so that viewers who depend on its stations can make alternative arrangements for receiving local television service.

Jane Williams, CMG’s EVP for television said: “We are disappointed that CMG and AT&T appear to be reaching an impasse that could lead to a disruption in service for AT&T U-Verse and DirecTV subscribers. We have negotiated many of these agreements with cable and satellite operators throughout the United States and have rarely had disputes of this kind. In just the past few weeks, we have reached agreement with some of the largest video distributors in the country. We certainly hope for the same result in our negotiations with AT&T/DirecTV.”