DirecTV reaches retrans deal with Heartland, ends five-week blackout

DirecTV and Heartland Media have finally reached a retrans renewal agreement, ending a five-week blackout of the satellite TV service on eight network affiliates spanning from California to Oregon to Mississippi to New York. 

As first reported by TV Predictions, Heartland stations posted statements on their websites over the weekend, announcing that a deal had been made. 

DirecTV went dark on Heartland stations back on August 10. The station group then sued DirecTV operator for what it termed to be discriminatory practices. 

“The merger of AT&T and DirecTV last year created a $250 billion company,” Heartland said. “Those that opposed the merger were concerned it would create such a behemoth that it would try and crush small broadcasters. AT&T/DirecTV has proven those concerns to be valid.”

Heartland also noted that its principal owner had been in the broadcast business 25 years and had never previously experienced a blackout. 

In a statement released shortly after that suit was filed in August, AT&T said, "We want to get the Heartland and USA Television stations back into our customers’ line-ups and share their frustration. The stations’ owners are prohibiting their signals from reaching their homes unless they receive a significant increase in their current fees just to let the same families keep watching shows that remain available for free over-the-air and often online," said DirecTV in a statement.”

For more:
- read this TV Predictions story

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