A carriage dispute occurs during a negotiation between a distributor (cable, satellite or streaming provider) and a programmer (local broadcast station owner and/or owner-operator of cable channels). The dispute triggers when the distributor and the programmer are unable to reach an agreement for carriage of channels on a pay TV system, likely after a programmer requests an increase in fees.
Customers of the distributor platform are left without one or more channels during the dispute. Carriage disputes are usually resolved when a distributor agrees to terms that a programmer sets; customers typically see the outcome of these agreements reflected on their monthly or annual bills.
In rare cases, a prolonged carriage dispute is the subject of litigation, after one company accuses the other of legal wrongdoing. Occasionally, a legal complaint is filed prior to the start of a carriage dispute, while a retransmission consent agreement is in place but clos to expiring.
State lawmakers have introduced a measure that, if signed into law, would require broadcasters and cable network programmers to negotiate carriage with cable and satellite platforms on a per-channel basis.
Comcast and Xfinity TV will continue to offer the YES Network for a little while longer, according to a short statement from both companies on Monday.
YouTube TV will credit subscribers $8 to offset the cost of Paramount Plus if Paramount-owned channels are removed from the service.
Paramount Global is warning subscribers of Google-owned YouTube TV that a forthcoming expiration of its distribution agreement may result in the loss of 23 channels on that platform.
Cable TV industry advocates say the proposal that mandates rebates during blackouts will not adequately address the problem.
The cable TV company would have to agree to “binding arbitration” for the extension to be approved, an unusual tactic in a carriage dispute.
The dispute could force Optimum to drop dozens of Nexstar-owned local TV stations across the country, as well as cable network NewsNation.
Even with the promotion offered by Optimum, Fubo is a more-expensive option to get MSG Networks compared to MSG Plus.
Basketball and hockey fans in the New York City metropolitan area can’t watch certain games on Optimum TV.
As is typical, the dispute centers around fees that Optimum’s parent company Altice USA must pay for the regional sports networks.
Verizon has sent a notice to some customers of its Fios TV service with a warning that one of their local television channels may be removed on Tuesday.
The company is moving forward with its complaint at the FCC, even though the channels have been restored to DirecTV.