In one week, customers to Verizon Fios cable TV services in two cities where Cox Media Group owns stations could be left in the dark when it comes to NBC programming in one locale, and FOX offerings in the other metropolitan area.
That’s because the TV stations’ owner and the MVPD can’t seem to be in agreement on terms for a new retransmission consent accord.
Word surfaced Saturday that CMG’s WPXI-11 in Pittsburgh, an NBC affiliate, and FOX-aligned WFXT “Boston 25” in Boston could be yanked from Verizon Fios local lineups in the respective DMAs — by law — come December 15.
According to CMG, the blame is on Verizon Fios, which has a plan “to block customers’ access to the stations.” That’s not entirely true, and demonstrates the typical one-sided finger-pointing and accusations lobbed by one party against another in a retransmission consent tussle.
The American Television Alliance — a decidedly pro-MVPD advocacy group that regularly puts the blame on a retrans impasse on broadcasters — was quick to jump in with its own version of the potential “blackout” of WPXI and WFXT.
As it sees it, it Cox Media Group’s “decision to hold stations for ransom across two markets while demanding exorbitant retransmission consent fee increases for programming that is free over the air” that has led to the potential impasse.
“Cox Media Group is once again threatening TV blackouts that would remove content from FOX and NBC affiliates in two major markets, demanding excessive retransmission consent fee hikes that leave viewers paying more for the same local programming,” said ATVA spokesman Hunter Wilson. “This TV blackout would be yet another example of Big Broadcasters leveraging disruption to demand outsized profits at the expense of American consumers.”
But, is it? CMG, in its defense, points to how it has “successfully secured dozens of fair carriage deals with every other pay TV provider” and that it is Verizon Fios that will potentially create “a major disruption” as the National Football League season reaches its conclusion, the National Basketball Association’s new association with NBA heats up, and collegiate sports continue to attract viewers for multiple sports.
WPXI VP/GM Kevin Hayes commented, “We’re extremely disappointed that Verizon Fios may pull our stations from its lineup, which will harm local audiences and local journalism to the benefit of this telecom giant. We cannot violate our viewers’ trust by accepting anything less than a fair deal that values the award-winning local journalism and programming we provide.”
For Todd Brown, VP/GM of WFXT, “Our request of Verizon Fios is simple. Stop trying to expand your already over-sized and unfair influence at the expense of local journalism and your community and negotiate in good faith to reach a fair deal. It’s what your customers deserve.”
The potential blockage under federal law of WPXI and WFXT to Verizon Fios subscribers in Pittsburgh and Boston is hardly fresh ground for Cox Media Group.
In November 2022, CMG’s stations were again blocked from Dish subscribers due to a retransmission consent impasse. This came following a July 2020 breakdown in negotiations leading to a seven-month “blackout” of CMG stations on Dish.
At the end of January 2021, a particularly bitter battle between Suddenlink and CMG ended after three weeks.
Then, in February 2021, DirecTV and CMG failed to reach a fresh retransmission consent deal, leading to a “blackout.”
