A retransmission dispute turned ugly over the weekend after stations were dropped at midnight Friday with Nexstar Broadcasting and Cox Communications at an impasse in negotiations.
B&C reports that Nexstar blamed Cox for dumping 13 of its stations. In a statement, Nexstar said: “The action follows Cox’s refusal to reach a new distribution agreement allowing the cable television provider the right to continue to air the highly rated programming.”
Nexstar’s statement added that there is “no such thing as a blackout in today’s world. Any viewer with a digital TV and antenna can watch television — for free. It’s only when MVPDs choose to stop transmission that consumers get harmed. Broadcasts are always on.”
Cox offered a different take in its own statement, saying: “Nexstar has not changed its offer in two weeks and is still demanding three times more for its free over-the-air stations.”
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