Carriage wars are back.
Executives for Fox Networks said Thursday night that DirecTV has threatened to pull its channels off its service if a new carriage agreement isn't rendered by Nov. 1.
Such a move would make dark channels including FX, National Geographic, Speed, Fuel and 19 regional sports networks in the homes of DirecTV subscribers. (The Fox Broadcasting Network and Fox News are covered under a different agreement.)
Also read: An FX-Censored Kurt Sutter Targets DirecTV in Carriage War Promo
The announcement comes about a year after Fox Networks pulled those same channels off of rival satellite service Dish Network in another carriage battle.
Here's the Fox Networks statement:
Despite Fox Networks’ offer of an extension during our ongoing negotiations, DirecTV has informed us and their customers that unless we agree to their demands, they “will suspend our networks on November 1.”
DirecTV sent us a proposal on Tuesday afternoon. They have given us no chance to respond before taking an unnecessarily aggressive posture and going public. It is disappointing that they have chosen bad faith tactics over meaningful negotiation.
We have proposed to keep the Fox Networks on DirecTV for the same price, and on the same terms as they are currently carried while we attempt to work out a fair agreement. Unfortunately, DirecTV has decided that unless they get their way, they are going to pull the plug on their customers November 1.