AT&T has reached a new carriage deal with American Spirit Media, ending a four-month blackout of the broadcaster’s local channels on both AT&T’s U-verse and DIRECTV TV services.
DIRECTV subscribers have been missing seven American Spirit Media stations due to the dispute since September 21.
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The seven stations are:
KAUZ (CBS affiliate) in Wichita Falls, Texas
WDBD (Fox affiliate) in Jackson, Mississippi
KVHP (Fox) in Lake Charles, Louisiana
WSFX (Fox) in Wilmington, North Carolina
WUPW (Fox) in Toledo, Ohio
WXTX (Fox) in Columbus, Georgia
WUPV (CW affiliate) in Richmond, Virginia
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In addition, AT&T, which owns DIRECTV, and negotiates its carriage agreements, was without WXTX, WDBD, WUPW, and WSFX.
American Spirit Media last night posted a terse notice at its station web sites that the carriage dispute had been resolved.
“We are pleased to announce that we have reached an agreement with DIRECTV,” the notice states. “(The stations’) signals will be restored to your lineup as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience.”
Shortly before the new pact was signed, American Spirit Media urged U-verse and DIRECTV subscribers to seek a refund because they had been without its signals for so long.
“Make your voice heard and tell them enough is enough…Tell them you want a rebate. We’ve heard of viewers are getting up to 25 dollars a month.” American Spirit Media stations stated in a notice posted on their web sites.
It’s unclear if the call for refunds helped trigger last night’s settlement.
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— Phillip Swann
