After a blackout that lasted more than a month, AT&T has agreed to terms on a new retrans deal with Dispatch Broadcast Group, restoring CBS affiliate WBNS-TV in Columbus and NBC affiliate WTHR-TV in Indianapolis to DirecTV and U-verse.
"WTHR is back on your system!" screamed a message from Dispatch sent Friday to subscribers of the two AT&T platforms. "After reaching a fair agreement with DirecTV and AT&T U-verse, all of your favorite programs have returned to your channel lineup."
Dispatch pulled its stations off the satellite and telco platforms back on Sept. 6. NFL football—or the lack thereof—was once again a driver towards a deal, with viewers blacked out of Thursday and Sunday games on CBS and NBC.
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The blackout followed a similar program interruption between DirecTV and Dispatch back in 2014, before the satellite carrier was purchased by AT&T.
The conclusion of this latest Dispatch deal marks an active fall for AT&T, which also struggled to get deals done with larger broadcasters Raycom and Sinclair.