CableTV Feud Ends: The Weather Channel Returns To DirecTV

• DirecTV's bitter three-month-long dispute with The Weather Channel ends

The Weather Channel will return to DirecTV (channel 362) Wednesday as both companies have settled on a new agreement, the financial terms of which were not disclosed.

As part of the new pact, The Weather Channel agreed to reduce reality programming by half on weekdays; return instant local weather and allow authenticated DirecTV customers to watch The Weather Channel video programming on multiple devices inside and outside the home.

“Our apologies to DIRECTV and their customers for the disruption of our service and for initiating a public campaign,” said David Kenny, CEO of The Weather Company, parent to The Weather Channel. “Our viewers deserve better than a public dispute, and we pledge to reward their loyalty with exceptional programming and more weather-focused news.”

“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,” said Dan York, DIRECTV’s chief content officer. “I know this was frustrating for many of our customers, but their patience was ultimately rewarded with a better deal and a better product.”

DirecTV (DTV) has reportedly agreed to a slight increase in carriage fees. DirecTV had wanted a sharp cut in tariffs and dropped the Weather Channel from its line-up in January following a dispute over the tariffs.

However, DirecTV had a change of heart after Hilton Worldwide (HLT) insisted that the satellite-TV provider carry the Weather Channel as part of a deal in which DirecTV would become the hotel giant's "preferred" provider, the WSJ reports.

Hilton's majority owner is Blackstone (BX), which is also an investor in the Weather Channel along with Comcast's (CMCSA) NBCUniversal. However, sources say that Blackstone had no influence on Hilton's demand for the Weather Channel.