DirecTV Group Inc. (DTV) asked the Federal Communications
Commission to intervene in a dispute with Tribune Co. that has
blacked out local stations for more than five million subscribers
since midnight Saturday.
In a complaint to the federal regulator, DirecTV sought an
expedited ruling against Tribune, accusing the broadcaster of
failing to negotiate in good faith. The satellite-TV provider also
questioned whether Tribune prematurely transferred its broadcast
licenses to bankruptcy creditors.
A Tribune spokesman wasn't immediately available for
comment.
The dispute comes as Tribune seeks to emerge from bankruptcy
proceedings after an $8 billion leveraged buyout in 2007
impoverished the newspaper and TV broadcasting conglomerate.
DirecTV on Saturday touted an agreement in principle reached
over the phone with the company, but Tribune Broadcasting later
released a statement denying any deal.
On Monday, DirecTV said Tribune executives had represented
themselves as having the authority to negotiate a retransmission
agreement but the troubled media company's creditors overruled
them.
DirecTV shares were off fractionally at $49.94 after hours.
-By Drew FitzGerald, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2909; Andrew.FitzGerald@dowjones.com