Satellite and streaming television provider DIRECTV has inked a new distribution agreement with Indianapolis-based Circle City Broadcasting to restore the market’s local ABC affiliate and bring back two other stations that have been unavailable for several years, The Desk has learned.
The multi-year deal includes restoring WRTV (Channel 6, ABC) to DIRECTV’s streaming and satellite platforms, nearly three months after a fee-related dispute resulted in their removal from the service. DIRECTV will also carry two other Circle City-owned channels, WNDY (Channel 23) and WISH-TV (Channel 8, CW Network), which have been unavailable to its satellite and streaming viewers since 2019.
DIRECTV began restoring the stations of the three channels early Friday morning, according to a person familiar with the matter. Specific financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
As is typical in disputes like these, the issue largely centered around the fees DIRECTV paid Circle City Broadcasting for the privilege of distributing its channels to paying satellite and streaming subscribers. Circle City reportedly asked for more money after acquiring WRTV from the E. W. Scripps Company earlier this year, and used the newly-acquired station as a bargaining chip to get distribution of its other two channels on the platform once again.
During the dispute, Circle City tried to encourage its viewers to leave DIRECTV for another provider by offering a “gift” if they submitted proof of their switch to a competing cable TV platform.
