[01/24/02]Fox is back.

After three months without it, Vicksburg Video has completed negotiations and began broadcasting FoxNet, a satellite channel that offers Fox programming, at 6 Wednesday night.

FoxNet is channel 65 in Vicksburg.

“Both sides found common ground,” said Larry Risner, marketing director for WEHCO, Vicksburg Video’s parent company. “I’m glad that we got this resolved. Really glad.”

“It is unfortunate that it has taken this long to bring the agreement to completion,” he said.

Fox appeared on channel 65 Jan. 22 and ran through the night before executives noticed the situation and cut it off. Beau Balch, manager of Vicksburg Video, said it was an accidental result of testing.

Now the channel is here to stay.

Risner said that FoxNet cannot be placed on the basic, 23-channel package because of contractual restraints. It will come with the standard package, which is $39.43 a month.

Vicksburg has been without Fox programming since October, when WDBD, Fox’s Jackson affiliate, switched to Warner Brothers. While Jackson cable companies signed deals with FoxNet, Vicksburg residents were left without Saints games, NASCAR events and popular television shows such as “The Simpsons.”

Local subscribers also missed the World Series for the first time in about 50 years.

“We are pleased to have FoxNet as a programming partner,” Balch said.

The new Fox channel airs most Fox programs, including “That 70s Show,” “Ally McBeal” and “The Simpsons.”

And Vicksburg residents can move forward with Super Bowl party plans. The deal came just in time for the Feb. 3 football game.

Customers may have to retune their televisions to pick up channel 65. Vicksburg residents with a digital receiver will not begin receiving the signal until Friday when the satellite completes the data upgrade. Until then, those viewers should turn off their digital units to watch Fox.