Fox Extends Affiliation With Sinclair Stations: Fox...

Fox Extends Affiliation With Sinclair Stations: Fox Broadcasting Co. has extended for five years the affiliation agreements with eight Fox stations owned or managed by Sinclair Broadcast Group. The pact suggests that Fox and Sinclair, whose stations are in key markets, have settled a rift that has been brewing in the last several months centering on Sinclair’s objection to Fox’s plan to expand its affiliate programming. Fox has been expanding into late night, daytime and news, but Sinclair was happy when the network was sticking to supplying prime time, allowing its stations to air syndicated shows in the remaining hours. As a result of the dispute, Fox failed to renew affiliation agreements with two Sinclair stations, in Raleigh, N.C., and Norfolk, Va. Thursday’s announcement applies to Sinclair stations in Pittsburgh; Baltimore; Columbus, Ohio; San Antonio; Des Moines; Flint, Mich.; Lexington, Ky.; and Peoria, Ill.