Nexstar, Cox Communications Resolve Carriage Dispute

Nexstar Broadcasting Group Inc. has reached a retransmission agreement with Cox Communications that will resolve a television blackout that started late last week.

The agreement covers 13 stations in nine markets. Nexstar said specific terms weren't disclosed.

Contract disputes between programmers and distributors have become commonplace in recent years. A major cause of the conflicts is that programmers want higher fees from distributors for carriage of their channels.

TV viewers around the country endured a record 193 blackouts in 2015, up from 94 the previous year and eight in 2010, because of an intensifying battle between cable companies and the broadcasters who provide a key part of their programming.

Last month, Dish Network LLC accused Minnesota-based media conglomerate Cordillera Communications LLC of pulling its broadcast signals during NFL wild-card playoff games in multiple markets to use the games as leverage. The two sides settled the dispute.

Last month, Nexstar reached a deal to buy Media General Inc. for $2.13 billion, ending a three-way merger standoff with rival deal-seeker Meredith Corp.

John D. McKinnon contributed to this article.

Write to Josh Beckerman at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 04, 2016 20:45 ET (01:45 GMT)

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