Viewers Deprived of Critical News, Severe Weather Alerts, and the NFL Playoffs, as Altice USA Drops 63 Nexstar Television Stations From Optimum Platform
Nexstar Media Group (NASDAQ: NXST) reported that Altice USA has removed 63 Nexstar television stations from its Optimum cable systems across 42 markets, affecting over two million viewers. The removal, effective at 5 p.m. ET, includes Nexstar's national cable news network, NewsNation.
The disruption impacts viewers' access to critical local news, NFL Playoffs, live sports, entertainment programming, and essential weather alerts. Despite Nexstar's attempts to negotiate since October, Altice has reportedly demanded special terms that Nexstar considers unreasonable and out of alignment with market standards.
According to Michael Biard, Nexstar's President and COO, this follows Altice's recent pattern, noting their previous removal of MSG Network. Biard acknowledged Altice's financial challenges with debt but criticized their approach of charging Optimum subscribers more while reducing services.
Nexstar Media Group (NASDAQ: NXST) ha riportato che Altice USA ha rimosso 63 stazioni televisive Nexstar dai suoi sistemi via cavo Optimum in 42 mercati, influenzando oltre due milioni di spettatori. La rimozione, effettiva alle 17:00 ET, include la rete nazionale di notizie via cavo di Nexstar, NewsNation.
Questa interruzione influisce sull'accesso degli spettatori a notizie locali fondamentali, ai playoff NFL, a eventi sportivi dal vivo, a programmi di intrattenimento e a importanti avvisi meteorologici. Nonostante i tentativi di Nexstar di negoziare da ottobre, Altice ha richiesto termini speciali che Nexstar considera irragionevoli e non in linea con gli standard di mercato.
Secondo Michael Biard, Presidente e COO di Nexstar, questo segue un recente modello di Altice, notando la loro precedente rimozione della rete MSG. Biard ha riconosciuto le difficoltà finanziarie di Altice con il debito, ma ha criticato il loro approccio di far pagare di più agli abbonati Optimum, mentre riducono i servizi.
Nexstar Media Group (NASDAQ: NXST) informó que Altice USA ha eliminado 63 estaciones de televisión de Nexstar de sus sistemas de cable Optimum en 42 mercados, afectando a más de dos millones de televidentes. La eliminación, efectiva a las 5 p.m. ET, incluye la red nacional de noticias por cable de Nexstar, NewsNation.
La interrupción afecta el acceso de los televidentes a noticias locales críticas, los playoffs de la NFL, deportes en vivo, programación de entretenimiento y alertas meteorológicas esenciales. A pesar de los intentos de Nexstar de negociar desde octubre, Altice ha exigido condiciones especiales que Nexstar considera irrazonables y fuera de línea con los estándares del mercado.
Según Michael Biard, Presidente y COO de Nexstar, esto sigue un patrón reciente de Altice, señalando su anterior eliminación de la red MSG. Biard reconoció los desafíos financieros de Altice con la deuda, pero criticó su enfoque de cobrar más a los suscriptores de Optimum mientras reducen los servicios.
Nexstar Media Group (NASDAQ: NXST)는 Altice USA가 42개 시장의 Optimum 케이블 시스템에서 63개의 Nexstar 텔레비전 방송국을 제거하여 200만 명 이상의 시청자에게 영향을 미쳤다고 보고했습니다. 이 제거는 동부 표준시 5시부터 적용되며, Nexstar의 전국 케이블 뉴스 네트워크인 NewsNation이 포함됩니다.
이로 인해 시청자들이 중요한 지역 뉴스, NFL 플레이오프, 실시간 스포츠, 엔터테인먼트 프로그램 및 필수 기상 경고에 접근하는 데 차질이 생깁니다. Nexstar가 10월부터 협상하려고 시도했음에도 불구하고 Altice는 Nexstar가 비합리적이며 시장 기준과 일치하지 않는 특별한 조건을 요구한 것으로 전해졌습니다.
Nexstar의 사장 겸 COO인 Michael Biard에 따르면, 이는 Altice의 최근 패턴을 따르는 것으로, 이전에 MSG 네트워크를 제거했던 것을 언급했습니다. Biard는 Altice의 부채 문제를 인정했지만, 서비스 감소에도 불구하고 Optimum 가입자에게 더 많은 요금을 부과하는 접근 방식을 비판했습니다.
Nexstar Media Group (NASDAQ: NXST) a rapporté qu'Altice USA a retiré 63 stations de télévision Nexstar de ses systèmes de câble Optimum dans 42 marchés, touchant plus de deux millions de téléspectateurs. Le retrait, effectif à 17 heures ET, comprend le réseau national de nouvelles par câble de Nexstar, NewsNation.
Cette interruption impacte l'accès des téléspectateurs à des nouvelles locales essentielles, aux playoffs de la NFL, aux sports en direct, aux programmes de divertissement et aux alertes météo cruciales. Malgré les tentatives de Nexstar de négocier depuis octobre, Altice aurait exigé des conditions spéciales que Nexstar considère déraisonnables et non conformes aux normes du marché.
Selon Michael Biard, Président et COO de Nexstar, cela suit un modèle récent d'Altice, faisant référence à leur précédent retrait du réseau MSG. Biard a reconnu les défis financiers d'Altice liés à la dette, mais a critiqué leur approche de facturer davantage aux abonnés d'Optimum tout en réduisant les services.
Nexstar Media Group (NASDAQ: NXST) berichtete, dass Altice USA 63 Nexstar-Fernsehstationen aus seinen Optimum-Kabelsystemen in 42 Märkten entfernt hat, was mehr als zwei Millionen Zuschauern schadet. Die Entfernung, die um 17:00 Uhr ET in Kraft tritt, umfasst Nexstars nationales Kabelfernsehnetz, NewsNation.
Die Unterbrechung betrifft den Zugang der Zuschauer zu wichtigen lokalen Nachrichten, NFL-Playoffs, Live-Sport, Unterhaltungsprogrammen und wichtigen Wetterwarnungen. Trotz der Versuche von Nexstar, seit Oktober zu verhandeln, soll Altice Sonderbedingungen gefordert haben, die Nexstar als unvernünftig und nicht marktgerecht ansieht.
Michael Biard, Präsident und COO von Nexstar, erklärte, dass dies einem aktuellen Muster von Altice folgt und verwies auf deren vorherige Entfernung des MSG Networks. Biard erkannte die finanziellen Herausforderungen von Altice mit Schulden an, kritisierte jedoch deren Ansatz, den Optimum-Abonnenten mehr zu berechnen, während die Dienstleistungen reduziert werden.
- None.
- Loss of distribution to 2+ million viewers across 42 markets
- Removal of 63 local television stations from Optimum platform
- Disruption of NewsNation distribution on Altice's cable system
- Failed negotiations with major cable provider
Insights
The carriage dispute between Nexstar and Altice USA represents a critical business disruption affecting
The dispute's immediate financial implications stem from both advertising revenue loss and potential subscriber churn. NFL playoff games typically command premium advertising rates of
Altice's debt burden context suggests this dispute centers on carriage fee negotiations, where Nexstar likely seeks rate increases to offset declining traditional TV viewership. Historical industry data shows carriage fees typically increase
This carriage dispute poses material risks to Nexstar's financial performance. With 63 stations affected, the revenue impact could be substantial during Q1 2024. Traditional retransmission fees represent approximately
The timing overlaps with peak advertising season due to NFL playoffs, potentially magnifying the financial impact. While temporary, extended disputes historically lead to permanent viewer erosion of
Altice's referenced debt situation suggests flexibility in negotiations, increasing the risk of a prolonged standoff. Investors should monitor the duration closely, as extended blackouts averaging 2-3 weeks can materially affect quarterly results.
Outage Affects Two Million Local Viewers in 42 Markets Across the Country and Nexstar’s National Cable News Network, NewsNation
Nexstar has tried to engage in good faith negotiations with Altice since October, only to have Altice refuse to do so by repeatedly demanding special terms that are wildly out of step with both our longstanding relationship and the cable television marketplace.
“Altice has consistently made unreasonable and unprecedented demands of Nexstar, culminating with their decision to walk away from the negotiations,” said Michael Biard, Nexstar’s President and Chief Operating Officer. “Unfortunately, this seems to be a regular pattern of behavior for Altice, which dropped the MSG Network just last week, depriving millions of
About Nexstar Media Group, Inc.
Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXST) is a leading diversified media company that produces and distributes engaging local and national news, sports and entertainment content across its television and digital platforms, including more than 310,000 hours of programming produced annually by its business units. Nexstar owns America’s largest local television broadcasting group comprised of top network affiliates, with 200 owned or partner stations in 116 U.S. markets reaching 220 million people. Nexstar’s national television properties include The CW, America’s fifth major broadcast network, NewsNation, our national news network providing “News for All Americans,” popular entertainment multicast networks Antenna TV and Rewind TV, and a
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250110659371/en/
Media Contact:
Gary Weitman
EVP and Chief Communications Officer
Nexstar Media Group, Inc.
972-373-8800 or gweitman@nexstar.tv
Investor Contact:
Joseph Jaffoni or Jennifer Neuman
JCIR
212/835-8500 or nxst@jcir.com
Source: Nexstar Media Group, Inc.
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