AT&T Says Blackouts Up Due to Retrans Dysfunction; Deerfield Seeks Added Time
AT&T Communications CEO John Donovan said agency consideration of Nexstar/Tribune must take into account a dysfunctional retransmission consent marketplace. In a docket 15-216 filing to be posted, AT&T said it told FCC Chief of Staff Matthew Berry it's dealing with…
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blackouts in more than 25 markets and may have more by summer's end because broadcasters are demanding retrans terms "that make no economic sense," including MVPD payments for stations they don't own or haven't launched yet. AT&T earlier this month brought a complaint against nine broadcast station groups alleging they were violating the good-faith negotiation rules (see 1906190027). Saying it hasn't received an unredacted copy of AT&T's good-faith complaint, Deerfield Media asked for a waiver allowing it to answer within 20 days of receipt of the unredacted complaint but no earlier than July 22. In a docket 12-1 posting Wednesday, Deerfield also opposed AT&T's request for expedited treatment. It said it took days to hire outside counsel that could represent it in the matter and look at the "confidential" version of the complaint, and some other defendants also are obtaining counsel. Perkins Coie is representing Deerfield in the complaint. AT&T didn't comment Thursday.