Charter, LIN TV Reach Tentative Deal
Retrans Pact Set to Expire June 30
By Mike Farrell -- Multichannel News, 6/11/2008 10:50:00 AM
Charter Communications said Wednesday that it has reached an agreement in principle with broadcaster LIN TV that will allow it to continue to carry the analog, digital and HD programming of LIN’s stations.
The deal appears to have avoided a protracted retrans fight, signs of which first surfaced earlier this week when LIN said that it had reached a stalemate in negotiations with the operator. LIN’s retrans deal with Charter is set to expire on June 30.
LIN-TV officials declined to comment, citing the fact that the company was still in negotiations with Charter.
In a statement, Charter said that it will continue to carry the broadcast signals of 11 LIN TV-owned and/or operated stations in Grand Rapids, Mich.; Green Bay, Wis.; New Haven, Conn.; Springfield, Mass.; Dayton and Toledo, Ohio; and Providence. R.I., after the agreement is finalized.
“We are pleased to have reached an agreement in principle with LIN TV, giving us the right to continue delivering programming offered by their owned or operated stations, and affording Charter the opportunity to expand our high definition (HD) programming to our customers in these communities,” said Ted Schremp, Charter’s senior vice president of product management and strategy, in a statement.
“Consumers are demonstrating a growing desire for quality high definition content, and Charter's priority is to provide our customers value and choice through a broad array of programming, packages, and enhanced services that include HD and video on demand," he added.
In its statement, Charter said that it is working with LIN to document the pending agreement in principle in definitive form as soon as possible.
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