American Television Alliance Statement on Potential Big Broadcaster TV Blackout from Cox Media Group Impacting Verizon Customers

Subscribers Set to Lose Key News, Sports and Weather Programming as Deadline Approaches

For Immediate Release
December 6, 2025
Contact: Hunter Wilson
Email: [email protected]

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the American Television Alliance (ATVA) released a statement in response to Cox Media Group’s decision to hold stations for ransom across two markets while demanding exorbitant retransmission consent fee increases for programming that is free over the air.

“Cox Media Group is once again threatening TV blackouts that would remove content from FOX and NBC affiliates in two major markets, demanding excessive retransmission consent fee hikes that leave viewers paying more for the same local programming,” said ATVA spokesman Hunter Wilson. “This TV blackout would be yet another example of Big Broadcasters leveraging disruption to demand outsized profits at the expense of American consumers.”

Big Broadcasters have levied more than 2,400 TV blackouts and increased retransmission consent fees by an overwhelming 2,000 percent since 2010. Cox Media Group’s TV blackout could impact Verizon customers in Boston, Mass. (WFXT) and Pittsburgh, Pa. (WPXI), jeopardizing their access to regular programs, news and sporting events that they care about.

For decades, Big Broadcasters have been charging cable and satellite providers and their customers to access local stations, often forcing the removal of channels from TV lineups and blacking out content until TV providers agree to pay more. When blackouts finally end, consumers get their programming back, often at a higher cost. American consumers continue to pay the price for outdated regulations, allowing broadcasters to continuously weaponize TV blackouts, deliberately targeting live sports and other must-see TV.

ATVA stands ready to work with Congress to modernize dated regulations that turn sizable profits for Big Broadcasters at the expense of consumers. To learn more about outdated broadcast regulations and their impact on the American consumer, visit https://americantelevisionalliance.org/about-the-issue/.