A retransmission dispute has blacked out both KGMB-TV and KHNL-TV on the DirecTV satellite television system throughout the state of Hawaii.

Retransmission consent agreements between local stations and programming providers, such as cable companies, involve providers paying fees to broadcasters for their content.

This dispute is between Alabama-based Raycom Media and California-based DirecTV, not the local stations.

Raycom’s dispute involves more than 50 stations in 37 U.S. markets. 

Separately, another dispute has blacked out at least two stations on the mainland including CBS-affiliate WBNS-TV Columbus, Ohio and NBC-affiliate WTHR-TV in Indianapolis, Indiana. The two stations are owned by the Dispatch Broadcast Group, which also owns newspapers.

In a statement, DirecTV said "Raycom Media is denying DirecTV customers and some of its own most loyal viewers access to its local broadcast stations unless they pay more than double just to receive the same broadcast shows that remain available over the air for free."

Meanwhile, Raycom has set up a phone bank to handle viewer calls.

"Raycom Media is working very hard to resolve this issue … but so far, DirecTV is refusing to enter into a new agreement with us." 

The Raycom statement reminded viewers that they have choices including free over-the-air reception of the stations’ signals, as well as other programming providers, such as cable or wireline telephone companies.