DOJ Filing Affirms Dubious Broadcaster Practices

Washington, D.C. February 21, 2014– In response to the Department of Justice’s ex parte filing at the FCC regarding broadcast ownership rules, the American Television Alliance issued the following statement:

We applaud the Department of Justice for shining a light on these dubious practices by the broadcasters and urge the FCC to follow the DOJ’s advice. Such arrangements often result in broadcasters colluding during retransmission consent negotiations and blacking out viewers when their demands aren’t met. In addition, we call on Congress to reform our retransmission consent rules once and for all so that broadcasters can’t continue to abuse consumers with coordinated blackouts.