ATVA Statement on FCC Rule Change on Retransmission Consent Negotiations

Washington, D.C. March 31, 2014– Following today’s decision by the FCC to approve a rule change that prohibits the top four TV stations in the same market from jointly negotiating retransmission consent deals with pay-TV providers, the American Television Alliance released the following statement:

We applaud the FCC for taking steps to curtail the problem of coordinated retransmission consent negotiations by top-4 broadcasters.  These dubious, anti-competitive arrangements have allowed broadcasters to collude and threaten blackouts of two or more top stations in a market.  Today’s ruling will help defend consumers around the country from blackouts and higher prices.