If the satellite service doesn't reach a retransmission agreement with WICU and WSEE, DirecTV viewers would need an antenna to receive the Erie stations.

DirecTV subscribers might soon need an antenna to watch Erie television stations WICU and WSEE.

Owners of the Erie stations have been warning viewers in recent days that the satellite service might drop WICU and WSEE if a new retransmission agreement can't be reached. A news release on the talks has been posted on the stations' website and both stations have run statements about it during their shows.

"We've had very good talks the last several days and into (Thursday) night," said John Christianson, executive vice president of SJL Broadcasting and Lilly Broadcasting, which own the Erie stations. "There is no deal. ... I'm hopeful we can come to an agreement."

DirecTV pays network affiliates such as WICU and WSEE a retransmission fee to carry their stations to thousands of satellite TV customers in Erie, Crawford and Warren counties. The last agreement was reached via an 11th-hour deal in February 2014.

Christianson declined to say when the current contract is set to expire but reminds viewers that both channels, along with Me-TV and The CW, are available over the air with a television antenna.

But some over-the-air viewers are having difficulty picking up the channels because of work currently being done on the stations' transmitting tower near Interstate 90 in Summit Township.

"We usually have our antenna at the top of the tower, but right now we have a temporary antenna that's lower on the tower and that can affect transmission," Christianson said. "Work should be wrapping up in the next couple of days."

Over-the-air viewers who have trouble receiving the stations can try moving their antenna higher, Christianson said.

CBS programming is also available online through CBS All Access, which costs $5.99 a month but offers a one-week free trial. WSEE is a CBS affiliate.

David Bruce can be reached at 870-1736 or by email. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNbruce.