WABI-TV 5 (CBS and CW) vs. DIRECTV ... Off the air at midnight 6/5?

[Maine-i-ac]

WABI and DIRECTV have failed to make an agreement. WABI has run a crawl on air today and has posted this FAQ.

http://wabi.s3.amazonaws.com/static/faq.html

 

[Maine-i-ac]

A couple of interesting articles and press releases about the situation.

From today's Bangor Daily News, as always, the comment section is interesting.
http://bangordailynews.com/2012/06/04/business/without-deal-bangors-wabi-leaving-directv-at-midnight/

And from DIRECTV's website, a press release stating that WABI wants a 300% increase.
http://directvpromise.com/diversified-communications-update/

 

[w9wi]

And, to be complete (although they aren't doing a very good job of defending themselves):
http://wabi.s3.amazonaws.com/static/faq.html

 

[newsbot]

It's hard to explain to viewers how the economics of television have changed and that stations now pay networks to carry their programming instead of the other way around and how this has compelled stations to turn to MVPDs for another revenue stream. Still, it would be nice to see WABI give it a try.

 

[Maine-i-ac]

Another link to WABI. They have attempted to explain without going into specifics (confidentiality issues) in this piece on their website.

http://www.wabi.tv/news/30739/wabi-message-to-our-directv-customers

 

[newsbot]

About time, and a pretty darned good defense at that. It's amusing to read the comments on the BDN articles that portray Diversified as a bullying multinational conglomerate. The reality is that DivCom only owns two TV stations, the other being the ABC affiliate in Gainesville, Florida, market #162. Some "conglomerate." WCJB is off DirecTV, too:

http://www.wcjb.com/directv-faq#overlay-context=directv-faq

 

[Maine-i-ac]

According to a story on tonight's news. WABI 5.1 and 5.2 will return to the Directv lineup by 8 p.m. tonight (6/28).