CBS Chief Says Retrans Blackouts Are “Ultimate Leverage”

Making Consumers the Broadcasters’ Ultimate Victims

WASHINGTON, D.C. June 6, 2011 – Blacking out viewers during retrans negotiations provides the “ultimate leverage,” said CBS CEO Les Moonves last week at the Nomura Securities Media Summit. That ultimate leverage of broadcasters makes consumers the ultimate victims, missing their favorite shows and paying higher fees. Moonves also said the “sky’s the limit” in retrans fees and predicted $1 billion in retrans revenue by 2017. This latest example of broadcaster arrogance again makes the case for reforming outdated rules and protecting consumers.