Fox signs affiliate deal with Portland TV station

PORTLAND – The Fox Network has signed a long-term affiliate agreement with Corporate Media Consultants Group, the company that is buying WMPX.

WMPX, which is currently a PAX network station, will begin broadcasting Fox programs sometime in the first quarter of next year.

The deal means that TV viewers who get reception from an antenna will be able to get Fox programs for the first time in more than a year. The previous FOX affiliate, WPXT, switched over to the WB Network in October 2001.

Cable subscribers and people who have satellite dishes have been able to watch Fox programming on FoxNet.

More than 100,000 households in Maine do not have cable TV.

Fox carries several hit shows such as “The Simpsons,” as well as major sporting events including the World Series and NFL football.

This fall, some viewers complained that FoxNet was not showing New York Giants games in Maine.

FoxNet provided only its national game of the week in Maine, but a local affiliate will have the ability to broadcast games of regional interest.

The same holds true for baseball. The local affiliate will be able to show Red Sox games, even when they are not the national game of the week.

“Returning over the air distribution of Fox entertainment and sports programming to the Portland area has been a high priority for Fox,” said Robert Quicksilver, president of network distribution for Fox.

WMPX will air Fox programming over the air and over cable systems.

WMPX is currently owned by Paxson Communications of Florida. PAX officials have said the company’s family-oriented programming will continue to air on Maine cable systems.

Paxson Communications reached an agreement last month to sell the station for $10 million to Corporate Media Consultants Group, a new company based in Toledo, Ohio.