A retransmission consent dispute has taken FOX 28 (KFXA Cedar Rapids) off DirecTV.
KFXA is licensed to Second Generation of Iowa but operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group, which bought KFXA’s non-license assets 11 years ago. FOX 28 is operated alongside Sinclair CBS affiliate KGAN/2.
The retransmission consent agreement between the two companies expired May 31. The agreement had been extended after originally expiring March 31.
In tradition with the Kabuki theater theme for such disputes, each side blames the other: A statement posted on the KGAN/KFXA website says DirecTV “unilaterally decided to discontinue carriage” of KFXA and suggested that viewers consider another provider.
Meanwhile, DirecTV put up a slate on channel 28 saying that “the owner of this channel has removed it.” The slate directs viewers to a website that says KFXA is seeking a “substantial fee increase.”
Federal law allows stations to either opt for must-carry status (mandatory carriage without payment) or retransmission consent (carriage with payment). Since KFXA opted for retransmission consent, both sides must agree in order for the station to be carried.
Broadcasting and Cable reported that a total of 17 stations owned by small companies are currently off DirecTV due to retransmission consent disputes.
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