In a notice published online this week, Circle City Broadcasting warned the channel, WRTV (Channel 6, ABC), could be pulled from DIRECTV during prime-time hours on Monday if a new agreement covering the station is not reached beforehand.
A source familiar with the dispute said Circle City is trying to force DIRECTV to carry two other channels — WISH (Channel 8, CW Network) and WNDY (Channel 23) — as part of any agreement to continue offering DIRECTV customers access to the ABC network affiliate, something Circle City largely admits in its public statement.
“We have negotiated with DIRECTV in good faith and have offered fair market terms for WRTV, WISH-TV, and WNDY,” a Circle City spokesperson said this week. “These rates are consistent with the market value established through agreements negotiated by other broadcasting companies and other video distributors over the past seven years.”…