DirecTV, Sunbeam resolve dispute over fees

[January 27, 2012]  MIAMI (AP) -- DirecTV Inc. and the owner of TV stations in Miami and Boston have resolved a dispute over fees the satellite provider pays to run broadcast programming.

Sunbeam Television Corp. and DirecTV Inc. both announced the deal Thursday.

Sunbeam had been preventing DirecTV from airing Fox programming in South Florida because of the fee dispute, one of many around the country. DirecTV viewers in Miami were unable to watch Fox's premiere of "American Idol" last week, as well as NFC playoff games two weeks ago. Sunbeam relented, however, for Sunday's NFC championship game and "American Idol" later that night.

Sunbeam also owns two stations in Boston. One of them, an NBC affiliate, will carry the Super Bowl -- featuring the hometown New England Patriots.

Details of the agreement weren't released.

[Associated Press]

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