While Nexstar Continues to Dodge FCC Rules, Optimum Focuses on Customer Choice and Value

Optimum Provides Solutions to Bring Customers Their Local News, Sports, and Entertainment Content – Call, Chat, or Visit Optimum.com/Nexstar Today

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Optimum calls on Nexstar, the owner of multiple broadcast stations across the country, to put its viewers first and stop driving up TV prices for consumers. While Nexstar continues to make unreasonable demands that are not in line with the reality of today’s TV landscape, Optimum is at the forefront of fighting for customers’ rights while bringing them affordable video solutions to keep costs down.

Further to their egregious rate demands – the highest of any broadcasting group – and anti-consumer negotiating tactics, which includes tying local channels to less popular ones and forcing specific and conflicting content carriage, Nexstar also continues to skirt the FCC and various regulations in place to protect consumers.

Optimum issues the following statement on its negotiations with Nexstar and disappointment in their continued anti-consumer stance and disregard for their viewers’ best interests:

“Last year, the FCC found that Nexstar’s role in negotiating carriage rights for WPIX-TV in New York, which is owned by Mission Broadcasting, violated TV ownership rules and proposed a fine and other penalties against Nexstar. Nexstar, however, insists on continuing to negotiate carriage agreements on behalf of WPIX-TV despite the Commission's ruling.

This move speaks volumes to Nexstar’s playbook – buy up the rights to as many local broadcast stations possible and then demand that consumers pay more to watch all Nexstar-owned content, no matter where they live or what they actually want to watch.

Enough is enough. At Optimum, we do not believe it is fair that customers should be forced to pay for channels like NewsNation, which 90% of our customers do not watch, or have their local broadcast stations be held hostage and tied to contract negotiations of separate channels and stations in far-away locations across the country. We are taking a stand for our customers and ensuring that they are provided with the choice, flexibility, and value that they deserve when selecting their desired TV content.

Despite all of this, we remain open to continued negotiations with Nexstar to restore their programming on Optimum TV lineups. In the meantime, customers who are looking to watch Nexstar-owned content can continue to do so for free over the air with an antenna or visit www.optimum.com/Nexstar to learn more about the solutions Optimum is making available to them.”

For more information, today Optimum filed this letter with the FCC related to its ongoing negotiations with Nexstar.

Steps for Customers to Take:

• Customers can rest assured – Optimum has video solutions so that customers can continue watching Nexstar-owned stations, including ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS and/or the CW. Chat with us or go to www.optimum.com/Nexstar to learn more.
• Consumer viewing habits have changed dramatically over the last few years and gone are the days of one-size-fits-all content packages, so Optimum is tailoring its offerings to meet customer needs individually. Optimum brings consumers a wide range of options that provide choice, flexibility and value.
• Optimum teams are ready to help customers find the best packages for them. Call us at 866-347-4784, chat with us or visit www.optimum.com/Nexstar to learn more.

About Optimum

Optimum is a brand of Altice USA, one of the largest broadband communications and video services providers in the United States, delivering broadband, video, mobile, proprietary content and advertising services to approximately 4.6 million residential and business customers across 21 states. The company operates Optimum Media, an advanced advertising and data business, which provides audience-based, multiscreen advertising solutions to local, regional and national businesses and advertising clients. Altice USA also offers hyper-local and international news through its News 12 networks.