Weather Channel ends DirecTV row

US cablenet The Weather Channel will return to pay TV platform DirecTV following a bitter four-month stand-off after agreeing to revise its commitment to reality programmes and returnable series.

The channel was dropped from the platform in January in a row that went further than the usual spats over carriage fees.

Concessions have now been made and The Weather Channel will return to DirecTV today. Financial terms were not disclosed but the network seems to have relaxed its position to allow a deal. Reports in the US say it has agreed to cut its reality programming by half on weekdays and include more local weather news.

David Kenny, CEO of parent company The Weather Company, also apologised to DirecTV for the increasingly nasty tone of the dispute.

He said in a statement: “Our apologies to DirecTV and their customers for the disruption of our service and for initiating a public campaign. Our viewers deserve better than a public dispute and we pledge to reward their loyalty with exceptional programming and more weather-focused news.”

DirecTV’s chief content officer Dan York added: “It’s a shame these disputes are played out on a public stage, but I’m pleased that we’ve been able to work together with The Weather Channel in a way that will benefit everyone. I know this was frustrating for many of our customers, but their patience was ultimately rewarded with a better deal and a better product.”