Consumers Beware: Black Monday Brings More Blackouts
Northwest Broadcasting takes down stations in four cities
Washington, D.C. November 27, 2012 – Consumers in four markets woke up to empty television screens where Northwest Broadcasting has cut off programming until its demand for unreasonable retransmission consent fees is met. For millions of consumers Black Monday is all about getting a great deal, but sadly Northwest Broadcasting gave consumers a raw deal when they chose to leverage 20-year-old, out of date retransmission consent rules.
American innovation and progress have been the hallmark of the last two decades, but not when it comes to TV rules. Broadcasters only have to dust off the 1992 Cable Act and slam it down on the negotiating table to support their demands for more money. That’s wrong. Northwest Broadcasting knows it’s wrong, consumers know it’s wrong and the FCC and Congress know it’s wrong.
Eighty-four blackouts this year alone is no accident. The FCC and Congress can prevent it from happening again.
Stations affected: KAYU (FOX) in Spokane, WA; KCYU (FOX) in Yakima, WA; KMVU (FOX) in Medford, OR; and WICZ (FOX) in Binghamton, NY.
Media contact:Lisa Mees, 202-973-4791