DirecTV Customers Wonder “Where’s Fox 40”?
Mother Lode residents with DirecTV satellite service have been without Fox 40, KTXL Sacramento, since Sunday morning.
Fox 40 is the Fox Network channel for the designated Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto market which includes Calaveras and Tuolumne counties.
The blackout is due to a monetary dispute between the owners of Fox 40 (Tribune Co.) and the satellite broadcaster.
Satellite television service is governed by federal law. Network broadcasters receive payments for retransmission of content, generally ranging from a few pennies to one dollar for each subscriber.
According to the Sacramento Bee, Tribune officials argue that although Fox 40 is compensated for the distribution of network programming, they are not being properly compensated for the programming that is originating from the television station.
Tribune owns twenty television stations across the country, including WGN Chicago.
DirecTV claims that this will likely be a “temporary” and “short lived” dispute.
This does not affect Dish Network customers or those with Comcast Cable.
Due to topography and distance, most residences in the Mother Lode are unable to aquire the free over-the-air HD tv signals that are broadcast from Sacramento and the greater bay area.
