Comcast files formal FCC complaint against Nexstar
Comcast has filed a formal complaint with the FCC, accusing Nexstar and MIssion Broadcasting of not holding good faith retransmission talks.
Nexstar Media Group ($NXST) is one of the biggest operators of local broadcast television stations in the United States. In addition to more than 160 local stations, Nexstar Media Group operates NewsNation (formerly WGN America), LIN Digital, Zap2It and Antenna TV. The company shares ownership of the Food Network and Cooking Channel with Discovery Networks. Nexstar is based in Irving, Texas.
Comcast has filed a formal complaint with the FCC, accusing Nexstar and MIssion Broadcasting of not holding good faith retransmission talks.
Nexstar’s local TV stations are warning viewers that a potential carriage dispute with Comcast could leave them without their local ABC, NBC, CBS or Fox station.
An ongoing battle between Comcast and Nexstar reached a peak this week when WPIX was pulled from systems in the New York City area.
Nearly half of Nexstar Media Group’s revenue during its most-recent financial quarter came from fees charged to cable and satellite services.
Around 93,000 households watch NewsNation’s coverage of the midterm election in prime-time, according to data reviewed by The Desk.
Chris Cuomo has requested a new time slot in order to generate higher ratings at NewsNation, according to a report.
Nexstar and Verizon Fios reached an agreement this week that restored around a dozen local channels in the northeastern part of the country.
A Nexstar spokesperson said Verizon is misleading customers about an ongoing carriage dispute.
Nexstar pulled its TV stations from Verizon Fios systems on Saturday over a dispute on fees associated with carriage.
Verizon Fios says Nexstar is holding 15 local channels and NewsNation hostage unless the service agrees to a 64 percent fee increase.