Sinclair, DirecTV extend agreement, no programming loss for customers

Leaders with DirecTV and Sinclair Broadcast Group—which owns local ABC affiliate NewsChannel 9—announced Friday that customers will not lose any programming because they have extended their current retransmission consent agreement. 

Leaders are extending their current agreement but will still work to create a new formal agreement, according to statements from both companies. 

The two companies have been in the midst of a programming dispute, and if it isn't resolved, the satellite TV company could drop all of Sinclair's channels. 

Before the announcement of an agreement, DirecTV customers in 47 markets, including Chattanooga, were in danger of losing ABC programming. 

Providers like DirecTV must pay retransmission fees to broadcasters, such as Sinclair.

The dispute is over how much DirecTV will pay Sinclair for ABC programming.