Verizon (NYSE: VZ) and Cox Media Group have ended a broadcast retransmission impasse that kept Fox affiliate WFXT-TV off the program guides of 400,000 FiOS subscribers in Boston and Rhode Island since Thanksgiving Day.
"Verizon and Cox Media Group have reached an agreement and Cox has restored WFXT-TV Fox 25 programming to the FiOS TV lineup," Verizon said in a statement, released late Wednesday. "We appreciate our customers' patience and loyalty throughout the negotiation process. The agreement Verizon has reached contains terms that are in the best interests of Verizon and our customers."
Added a WFXT-TV statement: "We apologize to our viewers for any disruption that this dispute caused, and we thank Verizon FiOS for its willingness to continue working with Fox 25 to reach an agreement that is favorable for both companies and all of our viewers. Fox 25 is very pleased to be back on Verizon FiOS."
Cox recently acquired the station as part of a swap with 21st Century Fox. According to the Boston Globe, Verizon executives said earlier that this transaction complicated renewal of the retrans deal.
For more:
- read this WFXT-TV statement
- read this Boston Globe story
Related links:
Retrans battle leaves 400K FiOS subs in Boston and Rhode Island without Fox
CBS and Dish still talking, sign another extension agreement
CBS gives 'short term extension' to Dish; satellite operator now in showdown with Comcast Sports, too
Dish sees third carriage tiff heat up as four more Comcast RSNs threaten to go dark