BETHPAGE, N.Y — Cablevision Systems and Connecticut broadcaster WFSB ended their two-week old impasse, reaching a retransmission-consent agreement on Jan. 19 returning the CBS affiliate to its customers in Litchfield, New Haven and Fairfield counties.
WFSB went dark to Cablevision customers in Litchfield and New Haven on Jan. 3. At the heart of the disagreement was Cablevision’s claim that the station was demanding carriage and payment in neighboring Fairfield County, which is currently served by New York CBS affiliate WCBS-TV.
The deal ends what was at times a contentious negotiation — Cablevision filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission on Jan. 17 claiming WFSB was not negotiating in good faith, a claim the station denied. Although Cablevision would not comment sources familiar with the situation said the operator is likely to drop its FCC complaint.
Although terms of the agreement were not disclosed, it appears that the compromise includes carriage in Fairfield County without a fee.
