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IRVING, Texas, July 11, 2019 – Nexstar Media
Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXST) ("Nexstar") set the record straight today with
legislators, regulators, consumers and others related to ongoing negotiations
between the parties on a distribution agreement that will allow AT & T to
continue to offer Nexstar's highly rated network and local community
programming to its subscribers.
The misinformation campaign started when
AT & T reported that "Nexstar has drawn 120 of its local programming
stations … "Nexstar did not shoot
stations or request their removal from DIRECTV, U-verse or DIRECTV from AT & T.
NOW platforms. Nexstar's offer for a 30-day extension would have allowed consumers
in the affected markets to continue watching their favorite shows on the network,
special events, sports, local news and other programming while
continue negotiations.
AT & T in its "External Fact Sheet" and
in communications with elected officials, wrongly asserts that Nexstar has
been involved in power outages with Cox Cable, DISH Network, Charter Spectrum "and
others "whereas in fact Nexstar has never had DISH
Network or Charter
Spectrum removes its stations from their mainstream video offerings. The facts are that Nexstar has established a
Long-term recording of hundreds of chords with multichannel video
programming distributors ("MVPD" or cable television, satellite television, telecommunications companies)
for the distribution of its television channels and is proud to have never, in his
23 years of existence, service interruption related to distribution agreements
the magnitude of the AT & T / DIRECTV interruption. In the last 20 months
only, Nexstar has successfully renewed more than 390 distribution agreements
cable companies for the distribution of Nexstar's stations, including a new
agree with Cox.
On the other hand, after its acquisition in 2015 by AT & T, DIRECTV was systematically involved in litigation with content providers and abandoned or threatened to blacken Viacom's local network and community programming, SJL Broadcasting / Lilly Broadcasting, etc. AT & T also fails to inform readers that between May 30, 2019 and June 10, 2019, AT & T / DIRECTV customers lost access to the network and local content of at least 20 outside Nexstar because of their inability to reach fair deals with ten other broadcasters. At present, AT & T has disputes with broadcasters and has discontinued local broadcasting stations of several operators (including Deerfield Media, MPS Media, Illinois GoCom Media, Howard Stirk Holdings, Roberts Media, Second Generation Iowa, Waitt Broadcasting, Mercury Media Group, Northwest Broadcasting and Nexstar), generating power outages focused on programming and local services for its customers in 13 US markets (see table below).
In particular, in addition to his property of
DIRECTV – the largest provider of satellite direct broadcast services in the country and
in some markets, single source of broadcast signal – in 2018, AT & T
acquired Time Warner, including global entertainment and media giants, Warner
Bros., HBO, Turner and CNN.
A little more than a year after putting
DIRECTV with Time Warner, AT & T
seems to want to use its new power in the market to prioritize its own content
at the expense of consumers and insisting on unreasonable conditions
incompatible with the market. Measured by market capitalizations,
AT & T is about 50 times larger than Nexstar and the size disparity
is even larger compared to other broadcasters that AT & T currently has
eliminated from memory. As one legislator pointed out in his letter to the CEO of AT & T, "This
The threshold seems to have the sole purpose of increasing the bargaining power of DirecTV
– with serious prejudice to consumers in Connecticut. "
Perhaps the most egregious of the AT & T
statements because they removed programming from Nexstar and other broadcasters
"We asked – and we will continue to ask – Nexstar to restore its channels
we work in private to conclude a contract that offers content to our customers
they want a value that suits them as well. "Apparently, the attention of AT & T over the last few years
week has not been on his clients and viewers that he has deprived of local programming
Nexstar repeatedly reiterated its offer to AT & T / DIRECTV of a solution
extension until 8 August, which would have allowed television viewers to
uninterrupted access to their favorite network shows, special events, sports,
local news and other programs until a new agreement is reached.
Nexstar wants nothing more than to bring its programming back to viewers by signing a new fair market agreement with AT & T and continues to negotiate in good faith to enter into a mutually acceptable contract with DIRECTV. Nexstar has offered AT & T / DIRECTV the same rates as those offered to other major distribution partners with which it had successfully negotiated until 2019.
Nexstar hopes to be able to find a solution immediately, but if AT & T can not reach Nexstar, Nexstar intends to continue to actively inform consumers in affected markets about how they can continue to receive their preferred network programming. in-depth local information. , other relevant content and programs for their communities, and critical updates in case of emergency. Attempts by AT & T to denigrate Nexstar will not be tolerated and their misguided efforts to fool viewers, as well as legislators and regulators, the investment community and the general public have required a response.
Consumers and viewers affected by AT & T / DIRECTV products
blackout can contact AT & T / DIRECTV directly at 208 South Akard Street,
Dallas, TX 75202 and telephone 855-567-1569 or 210-821-4105. Affected viewers
by the loss of service of DIRECTV have several alternatives to continue
watch their favorite shows, including local cable companies, DISH,
live, some subscription-based TV services and services
like the Verizon FIOS.
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