SYRACUSE -- After a blackout lasting nearly three days, Verizon FiOS TV customers can once again watch NewsChannel 9 (WSYR-TV) with their set top boxes. This, after Verizon and WSYR-TV owner Newport Television reached a new retransmission consent agreement late Sunday afternoon.
CNYTVNews.com received an official statement from Verizon just before 5pm Sunday. John Bonomo, Director of Media Relations, said, "the new retransmission agreement contains rates and other terms that Verizon believes are reasonable and are in subscribers ' best interests." At the time of the release, Verizon said Newport was "currently in the process" of restoring WSYR-TV programming to FiOS customers in the Syracuse market.
NewsChannel 9 posted a one-line update on its homepage: "NewsChannel 9 WSYR-TV and Verizon FiOS have reached a deal for the carriage of our station. This deal is effective immediately. We appreciate your loyal viewership."
As is usually the case when it comes to retransmission consent agreements, neither side is releasing any further details on the agreement.
NewsChannel 9 was removed from FiOS early Friday morning after the previous retransmission consent deal expired on Thursday night. The deal involved WSYR-TV plus two other Newport stations in other markets where Verizon provides FiOS TV service. Those included Harrisburg, PA (where Newport owns a CBS station, meaning FiOS customers missed the Houston/Baltimore NFL playoff game) and Albany, NY (where service was restored in time for viewers to catch most of the Giants/Packers playoff game on Fox affiliate WXXA).