Nexstar Nets Big Distribution Deal As Hearst Fights

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Nexstar has guaranteed that its stations will reach some 10 million cable TV subscribers thanks to freshly minted distribution deals with some 30 multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs).


In contrast, Hearst Television is defending its decision to keep its broadcast TV stations across 26 U.S. markets off DirecTV, saying that, “unfortunately, our viewers are the ones who suffer from DirecTV’s delay campaign.”

Nexstar did not offer details on its 30 new MVPD deals. However, it took a shot at TV station owns such as Hearst, Morgan Murphy, Sinclair and Northwest — all companies that have seen distribution of their stations stymied by unsigned retransmission agreements.

In a release distributed Wednesday (1/4), Nexstar said it has “a long-term record of negotiating in good faith to complete mutually agreeable contracts with hundreds of MVPDs for the carriage of its programming. Nexstar is delighted that subscribers in its markets will have uninterrupted access to leading network content from NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, MyNetworkTV, The CW, and Telemundo as well as local news and other programming it produces specifically for local communities.”

It’s a different tale for Hearst, which took to its station websites to explain that, “As a result of the ongoing impasse, Hearst Television’s broadcast stations are not being carried by DirecTV.”

Hearst said, “Throughout this process our negotiating team has been ready and available around-the-clock, including throughout the holiday weekend, to engage in substantive negotiations with DirecTV; however, we’ve been thwarted by what appears to be a strategy of unrealistic proposals and outright delay by a national distributor that does not seek to serve their subscribers or local communities.”

Hearst added that it will continue “its good faith efforts to reach a deal that is both fair for our viewers and recognizes the value that our stations have invested into local news and programming.”

At the same time, Hearst says it expects “fair compensation from any business that seeks to profit from our service and valuable programming.”

RBR + TVBR RELATED READ: 

DISH, Hearst reach retrans. deal  — Apr, 9 2014