DirecTV, KCRG-TV9 in carriage dispute

Some KCRG-TV9 viewers could see a disruption in programming as DirecTV's carriage agreement with the ABC affiliate expired at midnight on Dec. 31.

The station and DirecTV have been in negotiations for several weeks over DirecTV's retransmission of KCRG-TV9's programming, but they have not been resolved, according to The Gazette Company, which owns KCRG-TV9. The station has given DirecTV an extension until noon Jan. 14.

Distributors of broadcast stations, such as DirecTV, pay broadcasters for the right to carry the signal and then resell the signals to their subscribers.

'DirecTV has refused to pay current market rates for KCRG-TV's highly rated national and local programming,” said Chris Edwards, vice president of marketing for The Gazette Company.

Edwards added that KCRG-TV9 must pay 'top dollar in a highly competitive market” for its national network programming and syndicated shows as well as to provide local news, sports and weather.

'The core dispute between DirecTV and the station involves the price DirecTV is willing to pay the station for the right to resell the station's signal, and DirecTV's refusal to offer its subscribers all three of KCRG-TV's program channels,” he said, referring to the main television station as well as KCRG's 9.2 and 9.3.

Edwards said DirecTV 'pays other, considerably less popular program providers almost four times the rate the station is asking.”

DirecTV said in a statement it is working with KCRG-TV9 to prevent unnecessary interruption while also 'preventing significant price increases to see the same free broadcast TV in Cedar Rapids they've always had.”

DirecTV also stated it intends to keep KCRG-TV9 in its customers' lineups, but it first needs permission from the station as 'by law only they can remove or retain KCRG-TV9 from people living in or around Cedar Rapids.”