July 15, 2015

ACA Condemns Media General’s All-Star Game Blackout Of Mediacom Customers

PITTSBURGH, July 15, 2015 – American Cable Association President and CEO Matthew M. Polka issued the following statement regarding Media General’s TV signal blackout of Mediacom cable customers in 14 markets, an action begun last night that included three Fox stations that carried Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game:

“Media General’s 14-market blackout of Mediacom demonstrates yet again that federal retransmission consent rules are broken and harming consumers, many of whom suddenly lost access to baseball’s All-Star game aired on Fox stations last night. ACA believes that TV station owners should not be allowed to punish consumers by pulling their signals from companies like Mediacom just moments before a marquee programming event like the Midsummer Classic in Cincinnati.

“In light of Media General’s unsportsmanlike conduct, ACA urges Congress to start holding hearings as part of a new legislative drive to replace retransmission consent with laws that would put an end to TV station-initiated blackouts, such as Local Choice. ACA also thinks the FCC should update its retransmission consent rules to make unarguably clear that Media General’s conduct violates the requirement to negotiate in good faith.”

About the American Cable Association: Based in Pittsburgh, the American Cable Association is a trade organization representing about 850 smaller and medium-sized, independent cable companies who provide broadband services for nearly 7 million cable subscribers primarily located in rural and smaller suburban markets across America.  Through active participation in the regulatory and legislative process in Washington, D.C., ACA’s members work together to advance the interests of their customers and ensure the future competitiveness and viability of their business.  For more information, visit https://acaconnects.org/