Local blackout for DIRECTV customers drags on

A dispute between AT&T and local television stations has left viewers in the dark over the past few weeks for some of the season’s most popular programming, including local college football and NFL games.

AT&T, which owns DIRECTV, and Cowles Montana Media have not been able to come to terms since their carriage agreement expired June 30. The result is blackouts to local ABC, FOX and NBC stations for DIRECTV customers.

The blackouts prevent Flathead Valley DIRECTV customers from being able to watch local news, weather, sports and NFL football. Neither party has any timeline for a potential resolution to the dispute or the return of this programming.

Both DIRECTV and Cowles Media maintain they are dedicated to the interests of local TV viewers, and each claims the other party is at fault for holding up negotiations and suspending broadcasts.

“We highly regret the inconvenience this will cause to DIRECTV subscribers who want to continue watching local news, weather and sports on this station,” stated ABC FOX Montana in a Sept. 4 programming update on its website.

The statement also asserted the station will continue its good-faith negotiations.

Meanwhile, Suzanne Trantow, public relations manager for AT&T’s Rocky Mountain Region, said in an email, “We’re disappointed to see Cowles Montana Media put our Flathead Valley customers into the middle of negotiations by choosing to remove KTMF-ABC/FOX/MNT from their lineups. We had hoped to avoid any unnecessary interruption and asked Cowles Montana Media to keep KTMF-ABC/FOX/MNT available while we continue to negotiate. Cowles Montana Media has instead refused.”

Trantow also attributed the blackouts to, “Cowles Montana Media demanding a substantial fee increase just to allow you to keep KTMF-ABC/FOX/MNT the same as before.”

ABC FOX Montana, on the other hand, maintained, “it is just standard business practice that companies like DIRECTV pay for the right to resell programming to their subscribers…The station is simply asking to be treated fairly and compensated based on the popularity of our programming, just like every other programming channel on DIRECTV’s lineup.”

Retransmission consent — the heart of the standoff — is a process created by federal law through which satellite and cable companies negotiate with television stations for the right to carry their stations.

AT&T recently resolved similar carriage disputes with CBS and Nexstar. The current dispute with Cowles Montana Media, KHQ Inc. and NBC Right Now affects DIRECTV subscribers in markets throughout the Pacific Northwest.

The blacked-out content is still available for free over the air with the use of an antenna.

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at bserbin@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4459.