ATVA Calls on FCC to Protect Viewers from Media General Blackouts

Broadcast Company Fails to Come to Negotiating Table for 11 Days

Washington D.C. October 18, 2013 – After DISH Network filed a complaint against Media General with the FCC today, the American Television Alliance put out the following statement:

The FCC needs to step in immediately and protect viewers who have now been blacked out for almost three weeks by Media General. It’s outrageous that Media General won’t even come to the negotiating table while consumers are missing their favorite shows and games. Media General’s actions not only violate the Commission’s rules requiring good faith negotiation for retransmission consent, but also betray the public trust. The FCC has clear jurisdiction to act and we hope they do so quickly.

Stations affected: WVTM-NBC in Birmingham, AL; WKRG-CBS in Mobile, AL-Pensacola, FL; WFLA-NBC in Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL; WJBF-ABC in Augusta, GA; WRBL-CBS in Columbus, GA; WSAV-NBC in Savannah, GA; WHLT-CBS in Hattiesburg, MS; WJTV-CBS in Jackson, MS; WNCT-CBS and WNCTD-CW in Greenville, NC; WNCN-NBC in Raleigh-Durham, NC; WCBD-NBC and WCBDD-CW in Charleston, SC; WBTW-CBS in Florence-Myrtle Beach, SC; WSPA-CBS and WYCW-CW  in Greenville, SC; WJAR-NBC in Providence, RI; WJHL-CBS in Tri-Cities, TN area; WCMH-NBC in Columbus, OH; and WSLS-NBC in Roanoke-Lynchburg, VA.