By Steve Kabelowsky Contributing Columnist Published Aug 30, 2012 at 1:04 PM

People who watch WITI-TV Fox 6 on DIRECTV may have the channel go dark this weekend.

Earlier this year, viewers in southeastern Wisconsin saw WISN-TV Ch. 12 go dark on Time Warner Cable. There was a breakdown in negotiations for payment to carry the signal. After about a week, the signal came back on after a deal with the station's parent company, Hearst Television, was reached.

Then, Sinclair, the owner of channels 18 and 24, went public with their struggle to reach a deal the DISH Network. They reached a deal and for viewers, it was business as usual.

Fox 6 pushed out an announcement Wednesday morning about striking a deal with DirecTV, and created a website to talk about it.

Part of the statement reads:

"Despite our best efforts, DIRECTV is refusing to offer us fair compensation for the programming we provide, and we remain far apart in negotiations. WITI FOX 6 is regularly one of the highest rated channels on DIRECTV's platform. Our ratings prove that we offer the most compelling news, sports, and entertainment programming on TV. Yet, DIRECTV refuses to pay us a fair rate for our programming. In fact, we are asking for less money than DIRECTV pays other networks whose ratings are nowhere close to WITI FOX 6's. Like any business we cannot afford to give away our valuable content at a cut rate price.

"As a result of DIRECTV's inflexibility, there's a strong likelihood that all DIRECTV subscribers will lose WITI FOX 6. We feel we have an obligation to make sure DIRECTV subscribers are aware that they may not be able to see their favorite programming on DIRECTV after this Friday, August 31st."

We've seen this before, however, blackouts seem to be holding for longer periods of time. DISH and AMC still haven't reached an agreement, and most football fans know about the longtime struggles with the NFL Network.

I have said it before, and I'll say it again: I hate it when the people are caught in the middle of two big corporations who can't get along.

AMAZING RACE: Parts of the cast for the newest season of "The Amazing Race" on CBS have already been leaked, including the "Fabulous Beekman Boys" and Oconomowoc native Josh Kilmer-Purcell and his life partner Brent Ridge. However, the reality show has now presented the complete cast line-up. Some notables include Megadeth and White Lion band member James LoMenzo, a pair of Chippendales dancers and a double amputee snowboarder/motivational speaker.

What do you think? Is this cast stronger than "Survivor" with "Facts Of Life" cast member Blair (Lisa Whelchel) and former baseball player Jeff Kent? I can tell you one thing, the executives at CBS don't care, especially if you watch both shows.

COMIC BOOK GEEKS: Deadline Hollywood is reporting that the new TV show Joss Whedon is creating for Marvel and Disney at ABC will be called "S.H.I.E.L.D." The abbreviation – which has different meanings within the Avengers comic book and movie worlds – is for the organization Nick Fury runs, which recruits heroes Iron Man, Hulk, Thor and others to fight a common threat.

Whedon directed this summer's blockbuster "The Avengers" and is known for his TV work with "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Firefly" and "Dollhouse," among many other projects.

Steve Kabelowsky Contributing Columnist

Media is bombarding us everywhere.

Instead of sheltering his brain from the onslaught, Steve embraces the news stories, entertainment, billboards, blogs, talk shows and everything in between.

The former writer, editor and producer in TV, radio, Web and newspapers, will be talking about what media does in our community and how it shapes who we are and what we do.