Sinclair may pull Baltimore stations from FiOS TV subscribers

Fox and The CW affiliates owned by Sinclair Broadcasting (Nasdaq: SBGI) in Baltimore, Md., are warning Verizon (NYSE: VZ) FiOS TV subscribers that they may lose their signals unless the telco signs a new retransmission-consent agreement by Dec. 31.

ROH posted this message on its website.

"Based on the current status of negotiations we do not believe they will be carrying this station after that date," Sinclair's WBFF-TV wrote in a message posted on its website. Sinclair's WNUV-TV, which carries programming from The CW in Baltimore, posted the same message on its site. 

The station notes that it has distribution deals with Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA), DirecTV (Nasdaq: DTV) and Dish Network (Nasdaq: DISH) that will allow viewers to watch its programming through those providers.

Sinclair has also recruited some professional wrestlers to help it squeeze increased retransmission-consent fees from Verizon. Ring of Honor Wrestling, which produces programs that are distributed on Sinclair stations nationwide, is encouraging viewers to demand that Verizon reach a deal with Sinclair.

"Verizon FIOS apparently thinks that its subscribers won't care if they no longer carry our great programming--apparently they aren't wrestling fans!--and perhaps the only thing that will change their mind is hearing from their customers," ROH wrote in a message posted on its site.

Verizon officials said the company continues to talk to Sinclair. "Unfortunately, Sinclair Broadcasting is threatening to temporarily remove the stations from Verizon's FiOS customers because Verizon will not give in to Sinclair's demands for an unreasonable rate increase," spokeswoman Heather Willner said. "We hope that Sinclair will change its approach and agree to negotiate with us for rates and terms that are in our viewers' best interests to avoid any temporary interruption of content from these stations," she added. 

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