Full Channel reaches deal to restore Univisión in Rhode Island

After three months of stalemate with television broadcaster WUNI, digital TV provider Full Channel TV, Inc. announced that it has reached an agreement with Univision Communications, Inc, to restore the network’s Spanish-language programming to Rhode Island’s East Bay. As of Monday, May 16, Univision can be found on Full Channel’s Digital Silver TV tier on channel 127.On February 18, 2011, WUNI owner Entravisión forced Full Channel to drop WUNI from its channel lineup during retransmission consent negotiations. Full Channel cited an unwillingness to charge its customers higher rates for broadcast television service as the reason it was unwilling to agree to the higher rates and requirements Entravision had demanded.“We are pleased to have the network back in our lineup, but the rules remain very flawed and unbalanced,” said Linda Jane Maaia, Full Channel President and CEO referring to Federal Communications Commission rules which, since 1992, have given TV broadcasters like Entravision the right to grant or deny cable operators use of their signal. End of contract negotiations can prompt extended blackouts and often lead to higher fees being passed along to consumers.