DirecTV continues negotiations with Fox

YAKIMA, Wash. -- As Yakima Valley DirecTV subscribers watch reruns of Family Guy, Glee and other popular shows, a new agreement between the local Fox affiliate and the satellite company is still in the works.

"The negotiations are continuing and we're hoping to reach an agreement," said Jon Rand, vice president and chief operating officer for Okemos, Mich.-based Northwest Broadcasting, which also operates affiliates in the Tri-Cities, Spokane, Medford, Ore., and Binghamton, N.Y. He would not comment further on negotiations.

Comments from El Segundo, Calif.-based DirecTV were also brief.

"Both parties continue to agree on extending the agreement so customers can continue to watch their Northwest-owned stations, but beyond that we can't comment on the specifics of the talks," said spokesman Robert Mercer in an email response.

The relative silence is a contrast from earlier this year when Northwest Broadcasting shut down its stations on DirecTV on Jan. 1. That move came after several months of failed negotiations and disagreements, including how much DirecTV should pay Northwest Broadcasting to rebroadcast its stations.

The two parties came up with a temporary agreement in February just in time for subscribers to watch the Super Bowl.

The temporary agreement, initially a month long, has been extended in one to four-week increments, providing subscribers continued access to Fox programming during negotiations.

* Mai Hoang can be reached at 5099-577-7685 or maihoang@yakimaherald.com.