13 Stations Potentially Affected as Cox Has Yet to Reach Distribution
Agreement with Nexstar Broadcasting
Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXST) (“Nexstar”) announced
today that Cox Communications (“Cox”) subscribers in nine markets are at
risk of losing network and local community programming at 11:59 p.m.
local time on January 29, 2016 as Cox has yet to reach a new
distribution agreement allowing the cable television provider the right
to continue to air Nexstar’s highly rated programming. For over five
months, Nexstar has been negotiating in good faith to establish a
mutually agreeable contract with Cox.
Nexstar has established a long-term record of completing hundreds of
agreements with cable and satellite providers for the carriage of its
programming and is proud it has had no material service interruptions
related to distribution agreements since 2005. Nexstar will continue
negotiating with Cox to try and reach a fair agreement to allow viewers
to continue receiving its programming on an uninterrupted basis.
In the affected markets, Nexstar broadcasts leading network content from
ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CW and MyNetworkTV as well as local news and other
programming produced specifically for local communities. Viewers
affected by the potential black-out have several alternatives to
continue to watch their favorite shows including other local cable
providers, DISH,
DirectTV,
over-the-air, and services including Verizon’s FIOS and AT&T U-verse.
Across the U.S., broadcast stations and station groups generate
approximately 35% of household viewing, yet local broadcasters in
aggregate received on average about 12% of the total distribution
revenue from cable, satellite and telecom providers such as Cox.
Conversely, Cox (through charges to its subscribers) pays The Walt
Disney Company nearly $8.00 per household per month for carriage of ESPN
and Turner Broadcasting more than $1.65 per household per month for TNT.
With Nexstar’s commitment to local viewers’ information and
entertainment needs, local businesses and their marketing effectiveness,
local stations need to be fairly compensated for the value of their
programming.
Nexstar is committed to consistently elevating the level of service
provided to local communities in the markets it serves across the United
States by making meaningful capital investments to expand local news,
lifestyle, sports, weather and other programming and enhancing station
infrastructure, production resources and technologies. Nexstar regrets
that Cox Communications is willing to hold its paying subscribers
hostage because it won’t agree to fair and reasonable terms for viewers’
favorite network, local news and community-focused programming, as well
as other critical information and emergency service updates we provide
that is relevant to local community viewers.
Nexstar remains hopeful that a resolution can be reached before the
January 29 deadline, but should Cox fail to come to terms with Nexstar,
Nexstar intends to actively educate consumers in affected markets on how
they can continue to receive their favorite network programming,
in-depth local news, other content and programming relevant to their
communities, and critical updates in times of emergencies.
About Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc.
Nexstar
Broadcasting Group is a leading diversified media company that
leverages localism to bring new services and value to consumers and
advertisers through its traditional media, digital and mobile media
platforms. Nexstar owns, operates, programs or provides sales and other
services to 106 television stations and related digital multicast
signals reaching 57 markets or approximately 17.3% of all U.S.
television households. Nexstar’s portfolio includes affiliates of NBC,
CBS, ABC, FOX, MyNetworkTV, The CW, Telemundo, Bounce TV, Me-TV, LATV,
Estrella, This TV, Weather Nation Utah, Movies! and News/Weather.
Nexstar’s community portal websites offer additional hyper-local content
and verticals for consumers and advertisers, allowing audiences to
choose where, when and how they access content while creating new
revenue opportunities.
Pro-forma for the completion of all announced transactions Nexstar will
own, operate, program or provide sales and other services to 114
television stations and related digital multicast signals reaching 59
markets or approximately 18% of all U.S. television households.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release includes
forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking
statements on our current expectations and projections about future
events. Forward-looking statements include information preceded by,
followed by, or that includes the words "guidance," "believes,"
"expects," "anticipates," "could," or similar expressions. For these
statements, the Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for
forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
The forward-looking statements contained in this news release,
concerning, among other things, changes in net revenue, cash flow and
operating expenses, involve risks and uncertainties, and are subject to
change based on various important factors, including the impact of
changes in national and regional economies, our ability to service and
refinance our outstanding debt, successful integration of acquired
television stations (including achievement of synergies and cost
reductions), pricing fluctuations in local and national advertising,
future regulatory actions and conditions in the television stations'
operating areas, competition from others in the broadcast television
markets served by the Company, volatility in programming costs, the
effects of governmental regulation of broadcasting, industry
consolidation, technological developments and major world news events.
Unless required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise
any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise. In light of these risks, uncertainties and
assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this news release
might not occur. You should not place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this
release. For more details on factors that could affect these
expectations, please see our filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
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