ATVA: TV Stations Shattered Retrans Blackout Record In 2017
In a press release, the American Television Alliance, whose members include satellite operators and the American Cable Association, said that broadcasters had “shattered” the record for retrans related blackouts, with more than twice as many (213) as in 2016. “Broadcasters pulled the plug on American consumers a record 213 times last year, blacking out millions of pay TV subscribers across the country,” said ATVA spokesman Trent Duffy. “Broadcaster blackouts roared back in 2017 after the FCC suspended its investigation of abusive broadcast industry tactics. Broadcasters have weaponized TV blackouts, deliberately targeting live sports and other must-see TV to inflict maximum pain on innocent consumers.”