TV Talk: WPXI-TV goes dark on DirecTV; Waterston exits ‘Law & Order’
Share this post:
As of Saturday morning, WPXI-TV is no longer available to DirecTV customers, the latest retransmission dispute that impacts local viewers, this time between Channel 11 parent company Cox Media Group and DirecTV.
In a statement at WPXI.com, the station says, “DIRECTV has dropped WPXI from its lineup.”
In its competing statement, DirecTV says, “Cox Media Group (CMG) pulled its 12 stations from DIRECTV, DIRECTV STREAM, and U-verse customers in nine metro areas after rejecting the latest extension offer on the table while both sides continue to work to reach a new agreement.
“CMG is playing chicken with the industry, willfully ignoring the economics that its programming does not warrant a double-digit annual rate increase on top of an already exorbitant fee structure,” the statement continues. “By pulling its stations, CMG intends to penalize its viewers twice – once when pulling the programming and again when they return it at an unwarranted higher rate – adding insult to injury.”
Related
• TV Talk: Millennial ennui meets ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith’
• TV Talk: KDKA adds co-hosts to ‘Talk Pittsburgh’
• TV Talk: FX debuts dull ‘Feud;’ WQED-TV covers Carnegie International
Retransmission disputes, including this one that has been brewing for at least a week, occur when cable/satellite distributors and TV station parent companies fail to come to agreement on a new fee that distributors pay station owners to carry their channels.
Most recently, WTAE-TV was off DISH Network from Sept. 8 to Nov. 10 in a retransmission dispute. WPXI-TV has been off DISH Network since November 2022 with no sign of a resolution in sight.
Channel surfing
Sam Waterston, who has played district attorney Jack McCoy on NBC’s “Law & Order” for more than 400 episodes, will exit the series. His last episode will air Feb. 22 with actor Tony Goldwyn (“Scandal”) joining the cast as the new district attorney. … After its success on Netflix last year, NBC ordered a pilot for a “Suits” spin-off. “Suits: L.A.” will follow a former New York federal prosecutor who now represents powerful Los Angeles clients. … Cable’s Ovation TV debuts the 17th season of “Murdoch Mysteries” at 7 p.m. Feb. 10. … Netflix canceled action comedy “Obliterated” after a single season.