or


[03/31/12 - 07:55 PM]
Tribune Television Stations and WGN America No Longer Available Via DirecTV
Tribune has established a web site, www.tellDirecTV.com, to enable DirecTV subscribers to register their concerns about losing this valuable programming.

[via press release from Tribune]

Tribune Television Stations and WGN America No Longer Available Via DirecTV

Contract Covering 19 TV Markets, WGN America, Will Expire Tonight

CHICAGO, March 31, 2012 -- As of midnight, tonight, Tribune television stations in 19 markets across the country will no longer be available via DirecTV, denying subscribers access to the local news, traffic, weather, sports and entertainment programming provided by those stations. DirecTV subscribers will also be unable to watch WGN America, Tribune's national cable network.

Tribune Broadcasting's contract with DirecTV will expire at midnight, Saturday, March 31. A new agreement has not been reached. By federal law, without an agreement in place, DirecTV cannot carry the signal of Tribune's local television stations. Tribune's local stations in the eastern time zone will be the first to be denied by DirecTV to its subscribers. Stations in other time zones will follow.

"This situation is extremely unfortunate," said Nils Larsen, Tribune Broadcasting president. "We don't want anyone to lose the valuable programming we provide, but we simply cannot get fair compensation from DirecTV and we cannot allow DirecTV to continue taking advantage of us."

DirecTV has never compensated Tribune for the rebroadcast of its television stations and Tribune is asking for an agreement that is similar to those that DirecTV already has in place with hundreds of other broadcasters and program providers.

"As baseball season gets underway, DirecTV's inflexibility means sports fans in some of our local markets such as Chicago, Philadelphia, and Washington, will be deprived of one of baseball's most cherished events - Opening Day," said Larsen.

In Chicago, Cubs and White Sox baseball games broadcast on WGN-TV will be lost to subscribers, including the home openers of both teams. DirecTV subscribers in Philadelphia will lose access to Phillies baseball on WPHL-TV, including the team's home opener. In Washington, D.C., subscribers who are fans of the Nationals will not be able to see Nationals games on WDCW-TV, including their Opening Day contest with the Chicago Cubs. In New York, DirecTV subscribers will lose access to Mets baseball broadcast via WPIX-TV. Finally, DirecTV subscribers across the country will lose access to HD sports programming such as Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox baseball broadcast by WGN America.

"In addition, local news, weather, traffic and sports coverage will also be lost, as well as the high-quality entertainment programming we offer on our local stations," said Larsen. "This is a terrible outcome for the communities we serve and we regret that DirecTV has put us in this position."

In those markets in which Tribune owns the local Fox affiliate, DirecTV subscribers will lose entertainment programming such as "American Idol," "Glee," "New Girl" and sports programming such as NASCAR and Major League Baseball. In those markets where Tribune owns the local affiliate of The CW Network, DirecTV subscribers will lose programming such as "America's Next Top Model," "Gossip Girl," "Supernatural," "Vampire Diaries," and the series finale of "One Tree Hill." In New Orleans, where Tribune owns the local ABC affiliate, "Modern Family," and NBA basketball games will be unavailable to subscribers.

"There are options for DirecTV subscribers," said Larsen. "They don't have to miss their regular news or favorite shows. Our broadcast stations are available for free in HD with a TV antenna or through an alternative pay-TV provider."

Tribune has established a web site, www.tellDirecTV.com, to enable DirecTV subscribers to register their concerns about losing this valuable programming. "We've seen tremendous traffic to the website and a very high volume of calls, and we know that people will be disappointed and upset," said Larsen. "We're urging DirecTV subscribers to continue to make sure they are heard by calling DirecTV and engaging in social media via Twitter and Facebook."

TRIBUNE is one of the country's leading multimedia companies, operating businesses in broadcasting, publishing, and interactive. The company's broadcasting group owns or operates 23 television stations, WGN America on national cable and Chicago's WGN-AM. In publishing, Tribune's leading daily newspapers include the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, The Baltimore Sun, Sun Sentinel (South Florida), Orlando Sentinel, Hartford Courant, The Morning Call and Daily Press. Popular news and information websites complement Tribune's print and broadcast properties and extend the company's nationwide audience.





  [march 2012]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
    


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





[03/28/24 - 11:07 AM]
HBO Original Documentary "Brandy Hellville & The Cult of Fast Fashion" Debuts April 9
The film uncovers the toxic culture of the teen brand Brandy Melville and the global ramifications of mass-produced clothing known as fast fashion.

[03/28/24 - 11:02 AM]
FX's "Welcome to Wrexham" Shifts Season Three Premiere Date
The May 2 premiere will include the first two episodes of the eight-episode season, with a new episode available each following Thursday.

[03/28/24 - 10:36 AM]
Claire Danes Will Reunite with "Homeland" Showrunner & Executive Producer Howard Gordon on the Netflix Limited Series "The Beast in Me"
A grieving author finds a new subject in a real estate mogul who was once the prime suspect in his wife's disappearance. Her investigation spirals into a game of cat and mouse that might turn deadly.

[03/28/24 - 10:32 AM]
Roku Originals Reunites "The Real Bros of Simi Valley" for New Movie; Directed by Jimmy Tatro
"The Real Bros of Simi Valley: High School Reunion" is a continuation of the beloved original series, co-created by Jimmy Tatro and Christian Pierce, which became a social media phenomenon generating over a billion views across video platforms.

[03/28/24 - 10:04 AM]
Bravo Reveals Returning Cast for "The Real Housewives of New York City" Season 15
After a successful first bite out of the Big Apple, all six ladies of Bravo's "The Real Housewives of New York City" will return for season 15, including Sai De Silva, Ubah Hassan, Erin Lichy, Jenna Lyons, Jessel Taank and Brynn Whitfield.

[03/28/24 - 10:03 AM]
Matt Barnes and Anansa Sims Give a Close-Up Look at Navigating Love, Co-Parenting, Fame and More in New Series, "The Barnes Bunch," Premiering Friday, April 19 at 10PM ET on WE tv
This endearing new series follows NBA champion and successful Podcaster, Matt Barnes, alongside his fiancée, model and reality personality, Anansa Sims, as they navigate love, forgiveness, and personal growth while reconciling their past.

[03/28/24 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "Dan Da Dan" - Official Trailer - Netflix Anime
This is the story of Momo, a high school girl from a family of spirit mediums, and her classmate Okarun, an occult freak.

[03/28/24 - 10:01 AM]
"Karamo" Renewed for Third Season in National Syndication
"Karamo" is hosted by reality television personality, author, actor, producer and activist Karamo.

[03/28/24 - 09:31 AM]
Video: "Neal Brennan: Crazy Good" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Comedian Neal Brennan riffs in this stand-up special on crypto, social media flexes, sex compliments and the link between greatness and mental health.

[03/28/24 - 09:03 AM]
ESPN+ Unveils Major League Baseball Game Schedule for March and April
ESPN+ will stream a game every day in April, featuring all thirty Major League Baseball Clubs.

[03/28/24 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Jurassic World: Chaos Theory" - Teaser Trailer - Netflix After School
Set six years after the events at Camp Cretaceous, members of "The Nublar Six" are struggling to find their footing off the islands, navigating a world now filled with dinosaurs and people who want to hurt them.

[03/28/24 - 09:01 AM]
WWE on A&E Continues with Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias Joining "WWE Rivals" & More "WWE's Most Wanted Treasures" & "Biography: WWE Legends"
Kicking off on Sunday, April 14, "WWE's Most Wanted Treasures" will feature WWE Hall of Famers Booker T, Mick Foley, and Lita as they hunt for iconic memorabilia and share the history behind some of the most famous items in WWE history.

[03/28/24 - 09:00 AM]
"The Omen" Complete Franchise, Streaming Now on Hulu
To celebrate the new theatrical release, catch up on the supernatural saga with all five films available to stream on Hulu!

[03/28/24 - 08:29 AM]
Video: Prime Video Releases the Official Trailer for Horror Anthology Series "THEM: THE SCARE" Starring Deborah Ayorinde, Luke James, Pam Grier, and More!
This second installment will consist of eight episodes and premieres on Thursday, April 25, in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

[03/28/24 - 08:16 AM]
Netflix Lights Up the Sky with 1,000 Drones to Reveal May 1 Launch Date for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Epic Saga, "Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar"
In the series, arch nemeses Mallikajaan and Fareedan are locked in a battle for succession of Heeramandi, where courtesans reign as queens.