Tegna's proposed retransmission consent agreement with Dish Network is so rife with contradictions that it's "hard or impossible for DISH to ascertain what it is that Tegna demands," the MVPD said in an FCC docket 12-1 complaint Monday alleging violations of good-faith negotiation rules. It said Tegna is engaged in unilateral, take-it-or-leave-it bargaining by not engaging with Dish's offer or correcting the contradictions in its own, and by insisting Dish retransmit and pay for stations not affiliated with the Big Four networks. Tegna said the complaint "is utterly baseless and without merit [and it] welcomes a chance for the FCC to review DISH’s conduct over the course of this negotiation." It said Dish has used "consistently unproductive tactics and public misrepresentations" in its talks, and the MVPD is "short-changing their customers by serially dropping valued stations." Tegna said it made a proposal to Dish months ago and has modified it numerous times, including a rate cut, but Dish "refused to counter." Backing Dish, the American TV Alliance emailed that Tegna and other broadcasters "have been charging customers egregiously high fees for local programming for nearly two decades." The blackout of stations on Dish's lineup in more than 50 markets went into its 12th day Monday (see 2110060038).

Fubo Sportsbook, a mobile betting experience, became an authorized gaming operator of NASCAR, it said Thursday: This includes a multichannel marketing campaign with at-track assets, in-app use of NASCAR-owned track, series and event marks and logos, plus distribution across NASCAR’s platforms and events. Fubo Sportsbook is expected to launch in Q4.

The law doesn’t support charging tech companies regulatory fees for the benefits they receive from unlicensed devices operating in the TV white spaces, said Public Knowledge Senior Vice President Harold Feld in calls with aides to FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks and acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel this week, said filings posted Thursday in docket 21-190. NAB argues the FCC should expand the payer base for reg fees. Microsoft and other companies “at best” benefit from white spaces indirectly through third-party networks and third-party devices, said Feld. “This benefit is far too attenuated to pass constitutional muster, and nothing in the RAY BAUM’s Act supports assessing fees for such an indirect benefit.” If the FCC did use that benefit as a reason to charge fees, it would have to do the same to broadcaster-owned over-the-top services such as Hulu and Paramount+, Feld said. “These entities, and any commercial broadcast licensee that streams internet content, enjoy a similar benefit from Project Airband as Microsoft in being able to reach new rural customers.” The issue would be "better resolved as part of the USF contribution reform discussions rather than as part of this proceeding,” Feld said.

Discovery+ is available on LG's U.S. smart TVs, said the TV maker Wednesday: Users can access the streaming service through LG's webOS platform via app or by voice using the LG Magic Remote. Discovery+ is $4.99 monthly with advertisements, $6.99 ad-free.

About four in 10 over-the-top video watchers access services based on specific content that’s available, said Parks Associates Tuesday. "Content is key to OTT success," and a perceptive and intelligent content discovery strategy is a key differentiator in attracting, engaging and retaining subscribers, said analyst Paul Erickson. The inability to find relevant content is a top reason consumers leave a service, Erickson said.

A blackout of Tegna stations for Dish customers in 53 markets is “another example of broadcast conglomerates prioritizing profit over people,” said the American TV Alliance in a release (see 2110060038). “This weekend, millions of football fans across the country will be disappointed when they settle in to watch the game and realize it’s unavailable,” said ATVA. "DISH is purposefully misleading customers and inconvenienced its own subscribers by proactively removing TEGNA stations before the deadline," emailed a Tegna spokesperson. "Rather than using service disruptions as a business strategy, we call upon DISH to return to the negotiating table and work with us to restore our channels." Dish didn't comment, but issued a release on the blackout Wednesday. "We made a fair offer to keep Tegna stations available to our customers, but Tegna rejected it, forcing the removal of its channels," said Dish in the release. "Tegna is looking to sell its stations to the highest bidder and is simply trying to exploit DISH customers as a way to get the maximum price and further fatten their wallets."

Dish Network and Tegna blamed each other for a possible blackout of stations in 52 markets on Dish that was to have started Wednesday night. Claiming Tegna “prioritizes greed,” Dish said Tuesday it's “demanding a massive increase to nearly a billion dollars in fees for its programming.” Tegna emailed that it started alerting Dish subscribers about the possible blackout “due to Dish's refusal to reach a fair, market-based agreement to continue carriage of those stations.” Tegna said it's “committed to reaching a fair, market-based agreement with DISH based on the competitive terms we’ve used to reach deals with numerous other providers.”

MoviePass is barred from misrepresenting its business and data security practices, the FTC said Tuesday in a settlement over allegations the company blocked subscribers from using the service as advertised. Commissioners approved the nonmonetary settlement 4-1, with Commissioner Noah Phillips dissenting without statement. The company faces penalties up to $43,792 per violation per day. Per June's proposed settlement, MoviePass “deceptively marketed its ‘one movie per day’ service, then deployed deceptive tactics aimed at preventing subscribers from using the service as advertised.” The company didn’t comment Tuesday.

A pending blackout of Comcast's NBCUniversal channels on YouTube TV (see 2109270053) was averted with a carriage deal with no price increase for subscribers, YouTube said Saturday.

Regional sports networks went dark on Comcast and Dish Network over carriage license terms. MSG Networks said Friday the Comcast blackout was primarily in New Jersey and Connecticut and the cable company was "try[ing] to force us to accept terms they’d never agree to for their own regional sports networks." Comcast didn't comment. Dish emailed late that it's not carrying AT&T SportsNet and Root Sports and is pushing for RSNs to be available a la carte to subscribers in negotiations with parent AT&T. The telco didn't comment.