Broadcasters Hijack Local Viewing in Yet Another Market

Nearly 60 blackouts in 2012 alone with five months remaining

Washington, D.C. July 9, 2012 –  As summer heats up, so have retrans blackouts.  This week started with two new blackouts and there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight.  Who are broadcasters’ most recent victims of choice?  Now it’s viewers in Youngstown, OH who are now seeing static after broadcasters have pulled the plug.  This brings the 2012 blackout total to 58 markets, making it the highest year for blackouts.

Just last week, David Barrett, on behalf of the NAB, acknowledged before Congress that blackouts are unfair to consumers.  Sure doesn’t seem like all broadcasters got the memo!

For the sake of viewers across the nation, we urge the FCC to move quickly on new rules that curb broadcaster bullying.