Tribune Broadcasting "forced DirecTV to stop carrying local TV stations" in 19 markets -- along with its national WGN America cable network -- after the companies "failed to reach a deal before the Saturday midnight deadline," according to Todd Spangler of MULTICHANNEL NEWS. DirecTV, via its official Twitter feed, said that Tribune "asked that its stations be removed" at 12:00am PT Saturday. Tribune said it is asking for an agreement "similar to those that DirecTV already has in place with hundreds of other broadcasters and program providers." DirecTV "accused Tribune of negotiating in bad faith 'in every sense of the term.'" WGN "broadcasts Cubs and White Sox baseball games, including the home openers of both teams." Other MLB games DirecTV subs "stand to miss include" those on N.Y.'s WPIX-Ind (Mets), Philadelphia's WPHL-Ind (Phillies) and DC's WDCW-Ind (Nationals). In addition, WGN America "televises Cubs and White Sox games nationally" (MULTICHANNEL.com, 4/1). In Chicago, Robert Channick cites execs as saying that Tribune has "never received any fees from DirecTV to carry its local stations, but has been compensated for WGN America programming." The disagreement "seemed to hinge on terms for WGN America, Tribune's national cable network" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/2).
