WASHINGTON—With a Dec. 15 deadline looming for a new retransmission consent and carriage deal between Cox and Verizon, the two parties have started trading barbs over negotiating tactics and demands for higher retransmission fees.

If a new agreement isn’t reached, Cox stations WFXT (Fox) in Boston and Rhode Island and WPXI (NBC) in Pittsburgh, and PCNC (Pittsburgh Cable News Channel) could be blacked out.

Cox and Verizon issued similar threats in 2022 before a last minute deal was reached on Dec. 16th for the stations to remain on Verizon Fios.

“We are actively working to reach a fair agreement that puts our customers first,” Verizon said in a statement. “Unfortunately, Cox Media Group has yet to agree to reasonable terms. We are fighting to keep costs down for our customers while ensuring they have access to the NFL, college football, and NBA content they love. We will continue to work toward a reasonable agreement on their behalf.”

In a statement posted on its website, Cox’s WPXI-TV complained that while carriage deals are usually “reached without any disruption" to service “Verizon/Fios has so far refused to enter into fair market carriage deal with CMG for the WPXI programming and services that customers value. Verizon/Fios has an unfortunate pattern of forcing channel blackouts of local TV stations. Because WPXI has yet to secure a carriage deal with Verizon/Fios, you will lose live access to the shows, sports and local news on WPXI, which you rely on and are paying for. We are hopeful Verizon/Fios will abandon its well-worn path of blacking out TV stations and come to the negotiating table with CMG and start negotiating in good faith.”

The website also urged customers to call Verizon to complain and it provided contact information for other operators who will continue to carry the station.

“Despite what you may have heard, this dispute is not about WPXI seeking large fees,” the station insisted. “WPXI is often the highest rated channel on Verizon/Fios. Producing and broadcasting high rated, top-quality programming and being a network affiliate is very expensive. We invest millions of dollars every year in our local news, weather, emergency programming, entertainment content and network affiliations. To keep doing that, we need a fair market deal from Verizon/Fios and all our distributors. We have carriage agreements with every other major cable, telco and satellite company that is carrying WPXI and are seeking to be treated fairly by Verizon/Fios.”

The American Television Alliance (ATVA), which is backed by Verizon and other pay TV providers, has also weighed in.

It issued a statement from spokesman Hunter Wilson saying “Cox Media Group is once again threatening TV blackouts that would remove content from Fox and NBC affiliates in two major markets, demanding excessive retransmission consent fee hikes that leave viewers paying more for the same local programming. This TV blackout would be yet another example of Big Broadcasters leveraging disruption to demand outsized profits at the expense of American consumers.”

The ATVA contends that Broadcasters have levied more than 2,400 TV blackouts and increased retransmission consent fees by an overwhelming 2,000 percent since 2010. Cox Media Group’s TV blackout could impact Verizon customers in Boston, Mass. (WFXT) and Pittsburgh, Pa. (WPXI), jeopardizing their access to regular programs, news and sporting events that they care about, the group said.

ATLANTA—Cox Media Group has announced that the company’s vice president of news, Misty Turnbull has been inducted into the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) Silver Circle in recognition of her extraordinary and continuing contributions to broadcast media.

Turnbull, who has also won 20 Emmy Awards and a National Edward R. Murrow Award, has been with the company for more than 25 years.

“Misti embodies the CMG quest for journalistic excellence,” said Marian Pittman, CMG’s president of Content and WSB-TV (and a fellow NATAS Silver Circle member). “Her ability to consistently execute consumer research sets her apart in the industry. She leads with empathy and believes in growing industry leaders. Misti hits every challenge head-on and offers transforming solutions along the way. She is a big part of CMG’s success.”

CMG noted that Turnbull has consistently demonstrated the power of innovation and journalistic excellence throughout her career. Along the way, she’s played a leading role in advancing CMG’s multi-platform and award-winning content. Her unrelenting passion for transforming how content is created, presented, and delivered has allowed her to have a pivotal role across CMG and the industry.

Turnbull has also been at the center of expanding CMG’s streaming and digital footprint by leveraging the company’s live news assets, overseeing CMG original programs, and developing content partnerships.

“When I think back over the last few decades, I’ve been part of covering so many major stories – like JonBenet Ramsey’s murder, Atlanta’s `Snowmageddon,' the I-85 bridge collapse, the implosion of the Georgia Dome and so much more.” Turnbull said. “But what really gets me excited is what I’m doing now – helping to ensure all our CMG newsrooms are in a winning position and consistently providing our viewers high-quality local news, weather and investigative journalism across all platforms.”

ATLANTA—Cox Media Group (CMG) has announced that Joe Cowan will rejoin WSB-TV Atlanta as news director, starting in mid-June.

WSB-TV, an ABC affiliate, is one of the nation’s highest-rated local TV stations with a legacy of strong journalism. Cowan will be returning to WSB-TV after serving as the news director for CMG-owned WHIO-TV in Dayton, Ohio, the company said.

“Joe is the perfect choice to be the next Channel 2 Action News leader,” said Marian Pittman, president of WSB-TV and CMG Content. “He’s a hands-on leader with a long history of winning who understands the CMG culture and approach to serving our local communities. I’m thrilled to welcome him back to Atlanta and WSB.”

Cowan has been with CMG for 18 years, including 16 years with WSB before moving to WHIO in 2023. He has earned his way to WSB-TV news director, having risen through the ranks as a news producer, senior executive producer and multiplatform managing editor.

Cowan is a highly awarded journalist. In 2024, he and his WHIO-TV News Center 7 team won a regional Edward R. Murrow Award. Between 2016-2022, Cowan and the WSB-TV Channel 2 Action News team earned seven consecutive regional Emmy Awards for Best Newscast.

“Reaching our audiences with the news they want and the information they need is our calling as local broadcasters. It’s the purpose and meaning behind what we do,” Cowan said in a statement. “I also believe what we do should be fulfilling. So, I’m all about fostering team collaboration and cultivating a culture of excellence. That’s how we win … and at the end of the day, nothing is more fun than winning!”

NEW YORK and ATLANTA—Nielsen and Cox Media Group (CMG) have inked a multiyear renewal agreement for television and audio measurement services covering CMG's local television and radio stations.

As part of the agreement, CMG will continue to utilize a comprehensive suite of Nielsen measurement services to sell advertising.

CMG’s businesses include 14 television brands in 9 markets. The TV portfolio includes multiple primary affiliates of ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, Telemundo and MyNetworkTV, as well as several independent stations.

CMG has 50 radio stations delivering multiple content genres in 10 markets and numerous streaming and digital platforms.

More information is available at coxmediagroup.com.

ATLANTA—Cox Media Group has named Darren Moore senior vice president and chief sales officer at CMG Television.

In his new role, Moore will be responsible for the strategy, oversight, performance, execution and alignment of core, political, and digital TV revenue operations across the company.

Moore had been vice president and general of CMG Dayton, which includes WHIO-TV and CMG Dayton Radio (95.3 and 101.5 FM The Eagle, K99.1 FM, and 1290 and 95.7 WHIO).

“Darren is the clear choice to be the leader of sales for CMG TV,” Dan York, CMG’s president and CEO, said. “He has a deep knowledge of CMG and the industry, he cares about clients and helping them grow their businesses, and he has an innovative and creative approach to generating revenue that will help our sales teams thrive.”

Under Moore’s leadership, CMG’s WHIO-TV is the nation’s best-performing CBS affiliate, CMG said. WHIO and CMG’s Dayton Radio platforms have gained share while remaining the market’s top stations, according to CMG. At the same time, they’ve strengthened their engagement with the community and their partnerships with local businesses, the company said.

Moore joined CMG 28 years ago as an intern for WPXI Pittsburgh. That launched an award-winning career built on his early memories of visiting the station with his father, a former CMG employee, CMG said. After a stop at a CMG’s Charlotte TV stations, Moore returned to WPXI, where he progressed from national sales manager to director of sales. In 2022, Moore was named to his current position leading CMG’s TV and radio business in Dayton.

“As our industry evolves, it’s imperative that CMG evolves as well,” Moore said. “That includes innovating how we think about our business, grow our already best-in-class market share, monetize our high-quality content and help our advertisers expand their reach.”

Moore is a Pittsburgh native and graduate of the University of Pittsburgh. He lives in Dayton with his wife, Missy.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. ––Cox Media Group said Omesh Somaru will become vice president and general manager of CMG-TV Jacksonville on Jan. 1.

Somaru will leave his role as director of sales to succeed Bob Longo, who is retiring at year-end, and lead CMG’s WJAX-TV and Hoffman Communications-owned WFOX-TV. (CMG manages WFOX under a local management agreement.)

“Jacksonville is an important market for CMG, and we were looking for a strong leader with deep local experience to continue our momentum there,” CMG President and CEO Dan York said. “Omesh was the right choice, and under his leadership, I know our people, our clients and our business will continue to thrive.”

Somaru is a 25-year industry veteran and has been with CMG for 17 years, including stints at its station in Orlando and formerly CMG-owned Memphis and San Francisco stations. Since joining the Jacksonville team, he’s helped CMG’s stations achieve record revenue shares across both core and digital. He also played a key role in launching Telemundo Jacksonville and Action Sports Jax.

Somaru will lead a team at the station that launched the region’s only local all-sports streaming channel, Action Sports Jax 24/7, which delivers 10 hours of original programming a day.

In the last year alone, CMG-TV collected 8,500 books for children, helped save more than 450 lives through its blood drive, provided thousands of school supplies to local students, and awarded $500 every month to a viewer as part of its Doing Good in the Neighborhood program.

Somaru, who completed the National Association of Broadcasters Broadcast Leadership Training Program in 2019, is a University of Central Florida graduate with a TV and broadcasting degree. He lives in the Jacksonville area with his wife, Ailee, and daughter, Sophia.

ATLANTA—In addition to providing critical information about hurricanes Helene and Milton in its ongoing news coverage, Cox Media Group (CMG) has announced that it has raised nearly $1 million in hurricane relief and that its TV and radio stations have been providing food, water and necessities for impacted people and communities.

Those relief efforts have also included bringing mobile charging stations into communities for affected people to charge their cellphones and other devices.

“These efforts by our CMG family highlight the indispensable role of our stations—and our entire broadcasting industry—as we work together to make a powerful and positive impact on the communities we live in and serve,” CMG President and CEO Dan York said. “As importantly, none of this would have been possible without the incredible support from our local partners and audiences. The response of our viewers and listeners has been nothing short of remarkable.”

Examples of the relief efforts include:

• CMG Radio Tampa Bay (97X, 107.3 The Eagle, 101.5 The Vibe, Magic 94.9, 102.5 The Bone and 105.5 WDUV) raised nearly $950,000 during its Hope After Helene fundraising event. The collaboration included local businesses and listeners across central and south Florida. The proceeds went to Metropolitan Ministries, which provided food, water and other essential assistance to the victims of Hurricane Helene. This effort was aided by PSAs and other promotional support across CMG’s radio stations in Jacksonville, Miami and Orlando. CMG Radio Tampa Bay is now raising funds for those impacted by Hurricane Milton.
• CMG Orlando (WFTV and CMG Orlando Radio-WDBO 107.3 FM & 580 AM, Star 94.5, 98.9 WMMO, Exitos 96.5, WWKA-K92.3FM) provided mobile charging stations across multiple counties to help hundreds of people without power recharge their cell phones, laptops, tablets, portable batteries and other devices.
• CMG Radio Miami (HITS 97.3, Easy 93.1, Hot 105, 99 JAMZ) initiated Hurricane Helene/Milton Drop Off Relief. All CMG Miami radio stations provided on-air, social media and on-site components via all four stations to request listener help, collecting everyday essential items to benefit Tampa residents effected by severe weather conditions. As a result, two 18-wheeler semi tractor trailers—collectively carrying 80,000 pounds of water and everyday items—were delivered to the Tampa area. Another semi tractor trailer filled with thousands of emergency meal kits was provided to Tampa-area residents, in partnership with CMG Radio Tampa Bay’s 101.5 The Vibe.
• CMG Charlotte (WSOC-WAXN) aired a one-hour fundraising special on both of its TV stations to benefit the Red Cross and its efforts in Western North Carolina. A QR code was used to make it easier for the audience to give.
• CMG Atlanta (WSB-TV and CMG Radio Atlanta’s 10 stations) deployed its Convoy of Care. Thirteen tractor-trailers delivered thousands of pounds of nonperishable food, cleaning supplies, flashlights, batteries, personal hygiene kits, baby supplies, pet food and pet supplies to victims of Hurricane Helene in three southeast Georgia cities. Additionally, the Convoy of Care donation link has raised more than $33,000 to date. The Convoy of Care is a collaboration between WSB-TV, CMG Radio Atlanta, law enforcement, Caring for Others, and the Georgia Motor Trucking Association.

ATLANTA and ENGLEWOOD, Colo.—Cox Media Group and Dish have ended a dispute over retransmission fees that lasted nearly a year and a half with “a new multi-year agreement that will restore all CMG stations on Dish, effective immediately,” the two companies said in an extremely brief statement. 

“Dish and CMG greatly appreciate the patience of their subscribers and viewers," the statement concluded. 

The impasse, which started on Nov. 28, saw Dish pull the plug on 12 CMG stations in 9 markets after retransmission negotiations broke down. 

During the dispute Cox accused Dish of then issuing an “inaccurate” press release that included “knowingly false statements” about its decision to pull the CMG local broadcast stations from its own customers and issued a cease-and-desist letter to Dish demanding the satellite provider retract what it said about the dispute. These statements were “designed to mislead viewers and thereby harm the reputation of CMG in the marketplace,” according to the attorneys’ letter.

DirecTV and Cox Media Group ended their carriage dispute just in time for Super Bowl LVIII when the two announced a new multi-year retransmission consent agreement.

The impasse started Feb. 2, after their previous agreement had expired, prompting Cox to pull its 12 stations from DirecTV, DirecTV Stream and U-Verse in nine cities. 

The announcement, made on Super Bowl Sunday, meant that all of the stations—in in particular, CBS stations in Dayton, Ohio and Seattle—were restored immediately just in time for TV’s biggest annual event. 

“We will continue to work with broadcasters like CMG, as well as any other programmers, to align the price our customers pay with the value they can expect to receive,” DirecTV said in a statement. “DirecTV and CMG greatly appreciate the patience of their subscribers and viewers.”

Here are the specific stations and cities where CMG stations were restored:

• Atlanta: WSB – ABC
• Boston: WFXT-FOX
• Charlotte, NC: WSCO-ABC, WAXN-IND
• Dayton, OH: WHIO-CBS
• Eugene, OR: KLSR-FOX, KEVU-MNT
• Jacksonville FL-Brunswick, GA: WFOX-FOX/MNT
• Orlando-Dayton, FL: WFTV-ABC, WRDQ-IND
• Pittsburgh: WPXI-NBC
• Seattle-Tacoma: KIRO-CBS

ATLANTA—With the expiration of their two-year retransmission agreement looming, Cox Media Group took its first swipe against DirecTV, accusing the satellite TV provider that its “anti-consumer” practices are a threat to local journalism.

The carriage agreement between DirecTV and CMG expires Feb. 2 and if it’s anything like the last kerfuffle between them two years ago, the agreement is expected to lapse, resulting in  the same pressures that forced the two to reach an agreement within just days of Super Bowl LV. 

“DirecTV’s anti-consumer practice of repetitive, extended station drops is typical of DrecTV—they dropped hundreds of other local stations over just the past few months,” the company said.

“CMG is proud of our commitment to investing in best-in-class local news and investigative journalism,” said Marian Pittman, EVP of CMG. “We’re dismayed that DirecTV is trying to force a deal that would harm local journalism and broadcast stations. This hurts consumers who rely on our high-quality local news, weather, and entertainment programming.”

CMG said the satellite company’s strategy could threaten the viability of local journalism “at a time when broadcast TV stations are often the last source of local news, emergency information, and consumer protection left in their communities,” adding that CMG’s stations are consistently the most popular channels on DirecTV’s lineup.

If the carriage agreement expires, more than 1 million households could lose their access to CMG stations. Cox Media Group owns, operates or provides sales and marketing services to 50 stations in 10 markets. 

“Our request of DirecTV is simple,” Pittman added. “Don’t rob your customers of their access to the important news, sports and entertainment programming they need and want.”

This is the second such carriage dispute between broadcasters and DirecTV in the last month. Earlier, Tegna reached a multi-year agreement with DirecTV after its stations were pulled from the satellite provider's lineup for a month and a half.

In response, a DirecTV spokesperson said: "We are working with Cox Media Group to reach a new agreement that will align the value and quality customers receive with the price they pay. Our request to Cox Media Group is simple, don’t force your viewers who are our customers, to pay an unwarranted rate increase for ‘free’ news, sports and entertainment that is widely available on local station websites, through an over-the-air digital antenna and direct-to-consumer streaming platforms." 

CMG is currently in an ongoing retransmission dispute with Dish. That unresolved dispute led to 13 CMG stations being taken off Dish in late November of 2022. 

ATLANTA—The Cox Media Group (CMG) has announced that after nearly 40 years of service and leadership in local television,  Ray Carter is retiring as vice president/general manager of CMG’s WSB-TV in Atlanta, effective March 31. 

Carter said that he will lead the California Modesto Mission within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  

Carter worked as a producer, reporter, anchor and then news director at several stations before taking the helm as vice president/general manager of the CMG station in Pittsburgh. He then became regional vice president over five CMG stations before being named in 2019 as vice president/general manager of WSB-TV.

“Ray is one of the most impactful leaders in our industry. He brought an overwhelmingly positive energy to our business and deep passion for people and community he serves,” said Dan York, CMG’s president and CEO. “At the same time, he’s been an advocate for the value of local news and investigative journalism and the important impact of local broadcasting.”

CMG reported that Carter and the WSB-TV team worked over the years to inform, entertain, and elevate viewers and Atlanta communities. 

In the last year alone, WSB-TV team members packed nearly 40,000 pounds of food and prepared more than 32,000 meals during the MLK Day of Service; provided almost 6,000 backpacks with school supplies for students in foster care, homeless shelters or group homes as part of its annual “Stuff the Bus” initiative; gave over 22,000 gifts for children in foster care as a result of the yearly “Clark’s Christmas Kids” program; donated truckloads of food, water and provisions to support those impacted by natural disasters; and much more.

“I’m proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish as a team and the difference we’ve made for those we serve in and around our communities,” Ray Carter said. “And let me be clear – this was absolutely always a team effort and a testament to what a group of people can do when they are focused on a shared purpose and reason for serving.”

In addition to their community impact, Ray and his team have been highly awarded. Over the last 4 years, the station earned 24 NATAS Southeast Emmys and 17 Georgia Association of Broadcasters Awards. WSB-TV’s local and investigative reporting have also been the catalyst for positive changes in state and federal laws and other actions that have helped protect people. Ray himself was inducted into the NATAS Silver Circle in 2021, has served on the affiliate boards of ABC and NBC, and just completed a term as the Chairman of the Georgia Association of Broadcasters.

“Ray is a terrific leader and strong ambassador for CMG and our industry,” York said. “As importantly, he’s a genuine, authentic and outstanding person. He lives what he believes, believes what he lives, and he’s a shining example of what true servant leadership is all about.” 

ATLANTA—Cox Media Group (CMG) has announced two senior executive promotions by elevating Misti Turnbull to vice president of news, and naming Jordan Cipala vice president of strategy and operations.

Turnbull is one of CMG-TV’s most experienced leaders. She was part of the WSB-TV Channel 2 Action News team for 20 years, rising through the ranks to news director. Most recently, she served as CMG’s executive director of news with a focus on broadcast, digital content, and streaming content. Turnbull has worked in newsrooms in Norfolk, Colorado Springs, Denver, and Atlanta.

Over her nearly 30-year career, Turnbull has earned multiple Emmy awards and was awarded the first Southeast Regional Emmy for Outstanding Producer. She and her teams have also received multiple Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, including Overall Excellence and the coveted National Murrow Award for Best Newscast.

“Misti understands CMG’s pursuit of journalism excellence. Her knowledge of multi-platform content strategies and audience insights makes us better every day,” said Marian Pittman, executive vice president of  content, product, innovation and research. “She exemplifies the power of dedication and what it takes to be the best.”

Turnbull earned her bachelor’s degree in media performance from Florida State University. She and her husband, Robert, have been married for 28 years and have a son, Jackson, and daughter, Hannah.

In his new role as vice president of strategy and operations, Jordan Cipala will be responsible for evaluating business development opportunities, bolstering CMG’s market-intelligence capabilities, managing M&A and integration efforts, and supporting more streamlined collaboration and execution across CMG’s business units. He’ll continue as the executive sponsor of CMG’s Young Professionals Network Business Resource Group.

Prior to joining CMG, Cipala worked in PE-backed operations, principal investing and investment banking. He’s led strategic planning, evaluated and executed key investments across a variety of sectors, helped close M&A transactions and more.

“Jordan has been an indispensable member of the CMG team in leading our annual strategic planning process, supporting our Board interactions, and operationalizing our M&A efforts,” said Dan York, CMG’s president and CEO. “We’re thrilled to promote from within and reward his invaluable expertise and dedication to CMG’s future and continued evolution.”

Cipala graduated from Vanderbilt University with a double major in Economics and Engineering Science. He’s an Eagle scout, avid tennis player and fitness enthusiast, and enjoys spending time on his family’s farm outside of Nashville.

Cox Media Group (CMG) has launched a local streaming news service called Neighborhood TV (NTV) that’s free and ad-supported.

NTV has been available in test mode on desktop and mobile in Atlanta and Charlotte and is already generating more than 100 million impressions monthly, CMG said. It is expected to be available in Orlando in Q4 2023.

The company positioned the launch as an extension of CMG’s linear TV business, addressing audiences who have adopted streaming in addition to traditional TV and cable. Neighborhood TV is accessible on the web at www.neighborhoodTV.com, and via the CTV app on all major streaming platforms including Samsung and Roku. 

NTV, currently covering 70 neighborhoods in Georgia and 30 neighborhoods in North Carolina, is planning to target as many as 5,000 neighborhoods across the U.S. 

As part of the effort, NTV has partnered with McClatchy and plans to expand in the Southeast, and in thousands of other neighborhoods across the U.S. , CMG said. 

“We see audiences migrating online with a keen interest in local happenings and as the leading broadcaster in key markets, we want to build on the equity we already have by expanding in this way,” explained Steve Pruett, executive chairman of CMG.

The launch comes at a time when station groups like Hearst and Sinclair have launched local streaming services to expand their audiences and capitalize on the growth of streaming.

In announcing the launch CMG also released some early audience testing of Neighborhood TV that found residents are eager to know more about what’s going on in their immediate neighborhood through an authentic, realistic lens. Seventy-two percent say they have a positive first impression, driven by content, e.g. things you need to know in your community.  Of the 72%, a majority appreciate it because:

• It’s all local information and news.
• All about community news and events. 
• Covers things specifically related to my area. 
• Offers good and trustworthy information. 
• Informative things I need to know. 
• Coverage from places I recognize (local).

The research also found that current awareness of NTV is strong at 18%

More widely, the company also cited research and data showing that Americans’ appetite for “really local” content has surged, perhaps driven by COVID and people working from home. Locals want to know what is going on in their neighborhoods, as evidenced with the growth of NextDoor, which had a reported 37 million users in Q2 of 2022. 

Also, with local journalism struggling, many communities have little or no local coverage.  A report by Medill’s local News initiative found that between the pre-pandemic months of late 2019 and the end of May 2022, more than 360 newspapers closed. Since 2005, the U.S. has lost more than one-fourth of its newspapers and is on track to lose a third by 2025. As a result, local advertisers are also struggling to find ways to reach their prospects. 

ATLANTA, Ga.—The Cox Media Group has announced a partnership with E.W. Scripps Co.’s Florida 24 Network (FL24) that will expand FL24’s coverage of Florida with content and coverage from CMG’s stations in Jacksonville and Orlando.

The collaboration is expected to begin sometime in the first quarter. Scripps will continue to own FL24.

In June 2021, Scripps formed FL24, a statewide over-the-top and over-the-air news network that provides real-time depth, context, and clarity to the biggest stories impacting Florida residents, the companies said. 

FL24 currently highlights reporting from journalists at Scripps’ six Florida stations in Miami, Tampa, West Palm Beach, Tallahassee, and Fort Myers. 

As a result of the new agreement between CMG and Scripps, CMG’s local brands, WFTV (Orlando) and WJAX/WFOX (Jacksonville), will contribute content and coverage to help cover the remaining Florida markets.

“When seeking out a partner for this arrangement, we wanted to make sure that they have the same journalistic beliefs that we have and we believe we have found that in CMG,” said Joe Naylor, Scripps Local Media vice president, emerging products. “Scripps is committed to serving viewers throughout the state and providing more valuable content. Collaborating with CMG provides us an opportunity to share content and create a robust offering for all Florida consumers and audiences. We’ve been pleased with the results that we’ve seen so far and look forward to compounding that growth.”

“This partnership makes perfect sense because Scripps and CMG are so like-minded and share similar values. We both believe in the power of local journalism and this just gives us another platform to do that,” said Marian Pittman, CMG executive vice president of content, product & innovation. “We plan to share our Central Florida Spotlight segments, community programs, and public service outreach, in addition to local news investigations and weather forecasts. By providing this content, we’re filling a gap for Scripps but also helping our viewers in our markets get a better idea of what’s going on around the state they love.”

ATLANTA—Cox Media Group, which owns 14 TV stations in nine markets, has inked a deal to stay on Charter’s Spectrum cable service. Financial terms or length of the deal were not disclosed. The agreement means that there will be no station blackout. 

“This deal with Charter, which is consistent with our long history of carriage agreements, reflects the value of our market-leading stations and mission of delivering vital and award-winning news and entertainment programming,” CMG said. “We’re pleased to have reached this renewal without disruption to consumers, exemplifying our commitment to reaching timely and fair-market agreements with partners that negotiate in good faith.”

DAYTON, Ohio—TV broadcasters in Dayton, Ohio have launched NextGen TV broadcasts (aka ATSC 3.0). Stations include: WKEF (Sinclair/ABC and Fox), WHIO-TV (Cox/CBS), WDTN (Nexstar/NBC), WPTD (PBS) and WRGT-TV (Cunningham Broadcasting/Dabl). 

Based on the same fundamental technology as the internet and digital apps, NextGen TV can support a wide range of features that are currently in development. In addition to providing a new, improved way for broadcasters to reach viewers with advanced emergency alerts, NextGen TV features stunning video with brilliant color, sharper images and deeper contrast to create a more life-like experience. 

This month’s launch in Dayton follows a decade of development and months of planning and preparation by the local stations. WRGT-TV, the lighthouse station in the market, has converted to ATSC 3.0 and along with its own programming, will broadcast the programming of the other participating stations in NextGen TV format. All programming of all participating stations will continue to be available in the existing ATSC 1.0 DTV format. BitPath, which is developing new data broadcasting services, led the planning process and coordinated efforts across the five television stations. 

WASHINGTON, D.C.—American  American Television Alliance (ATVA) has issued a statement criticizing retransmission consent negotiating tactics by Apollo Global Management-owned Cox Media Group. 

Citing examples of what it called blackouts and threats of blackouts this holiday season, the ATVA said that those disruptions highlight why Standard General’s proposed $8.6 billion acquisition of Tegna poses a “significant threat to consumers”. 

The pay-TV operator-backed ATVA group noted that the broadcaster had already pulled its local television stations from Dish customers this holiday season even though the deal is under a great deal of scrutiny as the FCC continues to investigate Standard General's proposed acquisition of Tegna. Dish is a member of the ATVA.

“The unreasonable demands by broadcasters like Apollo’s Cox Media could not come at a worse time for families who rely on their local stations for news during the holiday season and gather together to watch holiday programming and their favorite NFL teams ahead of playoffs,” said ATVA spokesperson Jessica Kendust. “Instead of being on its best behavior as Apollo’s Cox Media pushes for FCC approval of its investment, Apollo’s Cox Media has proven it is willing to disenfranchise viewers who have done nothing wrong while the FCC is watching closely. This suggests that worse could be yet to come when the spotlight is removed.” 

 The ATVA acknowledged that Standard General sent a letter to the FCC seeking to assuage those concerns. In a bid to get rid of concerns that Standard General might work with Cox on retransmission consent deal, the letter clearly states that Cox's retransmission agreements won't apply to Tegna stations.  

Last week's letter to the FCC didn't, however, settle the matter for ATVA. 

“There is a bigger problem here,” added Kendust. “The ATVA has warned that this deal poses a more significant threat to consumers because the pending transaction will ‘intertwine’ Apollo’s Cox Media, Standard General, and Tegna in a way that permits the parties to collude—resulting in higher prices all around. Dish, an ATVA member, says that Apollo’s Cox Media has already attempted to negotiate for Tegna’s stations.”  

“We understand that Standard General has offered conditions to the FCC designed to address some of the harms we identified," the statement continued. "But the reality is that the proposed investment increases the parties’ incentive and ability to collude in ways unaddressed by Standard General’s offer. The FCC should look closely at the transaction and do whatever it takes to prevent big broadcast from colluding.” 

As previously reported, opponents of the deal have expressed concerns that the deal would, among other problems, increase retransmission fees and increase the cost of pay TV for consumers. 

More specifically they have worried that the deal has been structured so that Standard General and the private equity group Apollo Global Management would be able to work together to hike retransmission agreements. 

If the deal is approved, Cox Media Group, which is owned by Apollo, will acquire Tegna stations in Austin (KVUE), Dallas (WFAA and KMPX) and Houston (KHOU and KTBU) from Standard General and CMG and funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management would hold non voting securities in the company.

ATLANTA—Cox Media Group announced today it has reached a long-term carriage agreement with Verizon Fios TV. Although final terms were not disclosed, the agreement retains channels WFXT FOX in Boston and Rhode Island, WPXI NBC in Pittsburgh, and PCNC (Pittsburgh Cable News Channel) in Pittsburgh on the Fios TVlineup. 

CMG said, “This deal with Verizon, consistent with our long history of carriage agreements, reflects the value of our market-leading stations and commitment to delivering vital and award-winning news and entertainment programming. We’re pleased to have reached this renewal before our prior deal expired, exemplifying our commitment to reaching timely and fair-market agreements with partners that negotiate in good faith.” 

Last weekend, Verizon warned  viewers of those channels that while the two companies were continuing to negotiate a new carriage agreement, those channels could be dropped if an agreement had not been reached by the deadline, Dec. 15. 

Cox is in a continuing dispute with Dish over a lapsed carriage agreement—13 of its stations in nine markets were pulled from the satellite provider’s lineup on Nov. 28 and have yet to return.

ATLANTA—Cox Media Group has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Dish demanding the satellite provider retract what it says are numerous false claims designed to mislead customers about Dish’s decision to black-out CMG’s local television stations.

The current impasse, which started on Nov. 28, saw Dish pull the plug on 12 CMG stations in 9 markets after retransmission negotiations broke down. Cox accuses Dish of then issuing an “inaccurate” press release that included “knowingly false statements” about its decision to pull the CMG local broadcast stations from its own customers. These statements were “designed to mislead viewers and thereby harm the reputation of CMG in the marketplace,” according to the attorneys’ letter.

“That fact is, we asked DISH for an extension of our prior contract both in writing and verbally on several different occasions. CMG is now publicly asking Dish yet again to put our market-leading stations back on their satellite platform under the agreement that we both have operated under for years, and we’re again inviting them to finally start engaging in a meaningful good-faith negotiation of a new contract,” said Daniel York, President & CEO of CMG.

Cox accused Dish of “intentionally” misleading its subscribers by falsely claiming that CMG “refused to allow you to view their channels while we continue to negotiate,” when Cox says it “offered numerous extensions of the prior contract to allow Dish subscribers to watch CMG’s channels while the parties continued to negotiate,” the station group said in a statement. 

Cox also accused Dish of slandering the quality of the station groups’ journalism, and responded that CMG has in fact increased its investment in investigative journalism.

COLORADO—Cox Media Group stations in nine markets were dropped from the Dish TV satellite pay TV lineup on the evening of November 28 after Cox and Dish Networks were unable to agree on terms for a new carriage deal. 

"Cox's refusal to negotiate in good faith and subsequently forcing a blackout of its stations for Dish customers is deplorable," said Brian Neylon, group president, Dish TV. "Cox is demanding an exorbitant rate increase, negotiating for channels it does not yet own and insists on payment from customers who do not subscribe to local broadcasting, even as it continues to underinvest in local programming. Broadcasters like Cox put profits ahead of the public interests they are supposed to serve, even when its viewership has declined for years."

In a press release announcing that the channels had been removed from its lineup, Dish also contended that “over the past two years, Cox's viewership has significantly declined on Dish TV, indicating that many viewers have moved to other channels for their entertainment and news. With its decreased viewership, Cox is attempting to recoup its losses by demanding increased rates of nearly 75 percent from Dish customers.”

In response, CMG posted a statement on the website of WSB-TV in Atlanta, complaining that “Dish Network removed Channel 2 after the satellite provider refused to agree to a fair deal for a new retransmission consent agreement with Cox Media Group…Despite our efforts to negotiate in good faith, Dish still refuses to do a fair deal and has now blacked out 13 CMG stations, including Channel 2. They go dark only if Dish so chooses. CMG is hopeful that Dish will abandon its well-worn path of blacking out TV stations to the detriment of consumers in favor of meaningful negotiations toward a fair deal.”

“Cox Media Group is simply asking Dish to pay a fair rate for the quality local news and entertainment programming we invest heavily in, in addition to the prime-time and sports programming we pay to secure from our networks,” the statement said. 

Cox noted that the station’s programming “remains available for viewers to access over the air, and this dispute will not affect the vast majority of viewers, who are customers of other video providers. It should be noted that Channel 2 has reached agreements with virtually every other major cable and satellite distributor. This is simply Dish doing the same old tactic of dropping valuable stations."

The dispute impacts Dish subscribers who view various ABC, FOX, CBS and NBC stations in nine markets. Impacted stations include:

• (ABC: WSB) - Atlanta, Ga.
• (FOX: WFXT) - Boston, Mass.
• (ABC: WSOC) - Charlotte, N.C.
• (CBS: WHIO) - Dayton, Ohio
• (FOX: KLSR) - Eugene, Ore.
• (FOX: WFOX) - Jacksonville, Fla.
• (ABC: WFTV) - Orlando, Fla.
• (NBC: WPXI) - Pittsburgh, Pa.
• (CBS: KIRO) - Seattle, Wash.

ATLANTA—The Cox Media Group (CMG) has expanded its relationship with Telemundo in a new deal that will add Telemundo affiliates in Jacksonville and Seattle and renew CMG’s contract in Charlotte for its Telemundo affiliate. 

“CMG is excited to grow our relationship with Telemundo to provide a wide array of important programming to underserved Hispanic audiences in Jacksonville and Seattle,” said Paul Curran, executive vice president for CMG. “Our Telemundo affiliate in Charlotte has been a tremendous success. Bringing on these two new markets fits perfectly with our mission to inform, entertain and elevate the viewers and communities we serve.”

Telemundo is a leading producer of content for Hispanics in the U.S. and around the world. Its programming features original scripted dramas, non-scripted programming, motion pictures, nightly newscasts and news-related specials, and two prestigious global sporting events - the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics.

ATLANTA—Cox Media Group (CMG) has announced that it has closed separate transactions for the acquisitions of KLSR (Fox) and KEVU (My Network TV), two television stations in Eugene Oregon previously owned by California Oregon Broadcasting Inc. (COBI).

“We look forward to combining our rich legacies as we work together to improve lives and elevate our communities,” said Dan York, CEO of CMG. “Both stations have outstanding talent and have been exceptionally managed. They’re well-positioned to increase our competitiveness as we evolve our television footprint, drive revenue, and grow our ratings.”

COBI owned KLSR since 1993.

Terms of the deal weren't disclosed but TVNewsCheck has reported that the acquisitions totaled $7.2 million. 

“It’s been an honor to work with the dedicated teams at these great stations,” said Patricia C. (Patsy) Smullin, COBI’s President. “I’ll very much miss being part of this region and want to thank both stations for their commitment to their viewers and the community.”

KLSR and KEVU will join CMG’s 31 TV stations group.

“These stations will fit perfectly into our CMG TV portfolio, where our primary focus is serving our communities; informing, entertaining and engaging our audiences; and providing our customers with the best-in-class linear and digital platforms to help grow their businesses,” said Paul Curran, executive vice president of TV for CMG. “I’m thrilled they are part of the CMG family.”

ATLANTA & CHARLOTTE, N.C.—Cox Media Group (CMG) has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell TV stations in 12 markets to Imagicomm Communications, an affiliate of the general entertainment cable network INSP, LLC (INSP). 

Terms of deal were not disclosed. 

The deal is subject to customary closing conditions, including applicable regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the second half of 2022, the companies said. 

When the deal closes Imagicomm Communications, an affiliate of INSP, will acquire the following CMG stations:

• Alexandria, LA - KLAX
• Binghamton, NY - WICZ
• Eureka, CA - KIEM/KVIQ-LD
• Greenwood, MS - WABG/WNBD/WXVT
• Idaho Falls, ID - KPVI
• Medford, OR - KMVU/KFBI-LD
• Memphis, TN - WHBQ
• Spokane, WA - KAYU
• Syracuse, NY - WSYT
• Tulsa, OK - KOKI/KMYT
• Yakima, WA - KCYU-LD/KFFX
• Yuma, AZ - KYMA

“These are important local journalism and community service brands powered by incredible media professionals and journalists who work tirelessly to inform, entertain, and elevate the communities they serve,” said CMG’s president and CEO, Dan York. “We are pleased to advance the strategic evolution of our portfolio, are proud of our team members at these stations, and are confident they will continue to excel in their important work as part of the Imagicomm / INSP family.”

“We are excited to be entering the broadcast television market with this strong collection of brands that are integral to informing and entertaining the communities they serve,” added David Cerullo, chairman and CEO of INSP, said, We look forward to working with the stations’ talented staff and building upon their rich legacy of journalism and serving their communities, advertisers, and audiences. This acquisition is part of our broad corporate strategy to expand our media ownership across multiple entertainment platforms.”

NEW YORK—Cox Media Group has inked a multi-year renewal agreement for television and audio measurement services covering Cox Media Group local television stations in 10 full service television markets and Cox Media Group local radio stations in 10 full service radio markets. The agreement also includes CoxReps, a nationwide network of media professionals, which provides television sales representation of broadcasters with advertising agencies. 

Included in the agreement is Nielsen Local Media Impact, which has been licensed by CMG radio stations in Atlanta, Houston, Jacksonville, Fla., Miami, Orlando, San Antonio and Tampa, to help optimize advertising campaigns. CMG radio stations will also have access to the National Regional Database (NRD), a customizable tool of radio listening information for every market that Nielsen Audio surveys.  

The agreement also renews access of CMG radio stations to Nielsen Scarborough, which provides local market research and measures 2,000 market categories. Additionally, the stations will continue to have access to Scarborough MARS Healthcare Module to help maximize advertising strategies for CMG’s growing healthcare segment. CoxReps, along with CMG television stations, have also renewed with Nielsen Scarborough.

CMG television stations also subscribe to Arianna which delivers local market overnight TV audience estimates providing analytics on program performance as well as trending programs and time periods, and  Nielsen’s Local TV View (NLTV). Additionally, CMG will also utilize Grabix, a web-based application that combines Nielsen’s minute-by-minute television audience metrics to actual audio and video content.  

Cox also subscribes to Nielsen Radio County Coverage data, which provides local insights by breaking out of the standard Nielsen Radio metro boundaries for a broader understanding of listeners.

ATLANTA—Cox Media Group (CMG) appointed Darren Moore as vice president and general manager of CMG Ohio. He will oversee all CMG Ohio operations including news, programming, sales, digital, engineering, production and community affairs for WHIO-TV, 95.3 and 101.1 The Eagle, 1290 and 95.7 WHIO and K99.1 New Country.

Moore joined CMG 26 years ago as an intern for WPXI in Pittsburgh, launching his career and following in the footsteps of his father, a former CMG employee. After finishing his internship, he relocated to Charlotte and worked as an account executive for the newly launched WAXN. Returning to Pittsburgh, his career continued to progress from national sales manager at WPXI/WJAC/WTOV, to local sales manager of WPXI, and later to director of sales.

Paul Curran, executive vice president of television at CMG, said in a press statement, “His strong track record of forging internal and external relationships will make a positive impact on our Dayton operations and in the Dayton community. I look forward to watching him excel in this new role as our approach to broadcasting in Dayton continues to evolve.”

“I am honored to join the outstanding broadcasters at CMG Ohio, home to some of the most iconic TV and radio brands in the entire industry,” said Moore. “I can’t wait to start working with the Dayton team, further enhancing our award-winning brands, serving our customers and viewers, and partnering with the local Miami Valley community.”

CHICAGO, Ill.—In a move that Redbox is describing as the largest addition of new free streaming channels in its history, the streaming service has announced it will add more than 20 new Free Ad Supported Live TV (FAST) channels to its free streaming service in the coming weeks – including live local news, kids and Spanish language programming. 

The new content includes 10 Cox Media Group-owned local news channels, America’s Funniest Home Videos, Yahoo! Finance, Electric Now, Wu Tang Collection, Happy Kids, Sony Canal and other services. 

“This is the largest increase of new, free streaming channels in Redbox’s history,” said Chris Yates, general manager, Redbox On Demand. “From local news to some of the best kids shows, there is even more programming for everyone to enjoy. We’re excited to see these channels go live soon.”

The Cox owned stations involved in the Redbox deal include:

• WHIO (Dayton)
• WJAX (Jacksonville)
• WSB (Atlanta)
• WSOC (Charlotte)
• WPXI (Pittsburgh)
• WFTV (Orlando)
• KIRO (Seattle)
• KOKI (Tulsa)
• WHBQ (Memphis)
• WFXT (Boston)

The Redbox streaming app is available on a wide range of devices including Roku, Samsung, LG, VIZIO, Apple TV, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, iOS and Android mobile devices and Xbox.

ATLANTA, Ga.—Cox Media Group’s CoxReps has announced the promotion of Ann Hailer to the role of president at the TV ad rep firm. 

Prior to the promotion, Hailer has served as the chief operating officer since 2019. 

“Ann exemplifies the leadership, collaboration and resilience that are the hallmarks of our culture at CoxReps,” said Steve Pruett, executive chairman, CMG. “She is a respected, passionate and committed leader who is laser focused on bringing the best out of her people to deliver exemplary customer service and outperform the competition. Over the years, Ann has played a critical role in positioning CoxReps for success by embracing disruption and championing innovation. I am excited to see how the future unfolds under her leadership.”

A proven leader and media-industry veteran, Hailer has spent most of her career with CMG, serving in various sales, management, and key leadership roles with increasing responsibility throughout her tenure. 

In her most recent role as CoxReps’ chief operating officer, she used her 25 years of media experience to effectively manage operations and procedures across sales, analytics, technology, and business development. Prior to serving as COO, she was senior vice president and director of sales.

Hailer’s longevity with CoxReps is bolstered by her belief that no matter the role, there is always an opportunity to be both a mentor and pupil, the company said. 

As such, Hailer served as the Chair of CMG’s Diversity & Inclusion advisory council from 2016 to 2019 and is an active member of CMG’s Executive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council. She also sits on TVB’s Executive Board of Directors and has been a member of the Detroit AdCraft group since 1993.

ATLANTA & DALLAS—With the clock ticking toward the kickoff of Super Bowl LV on Feb. 7, Cox Media Group and AT&T announced that they had reached a new multi-year retransmission deal that would return Cox stations in 20 markets to AT&T/DirecTV customers.

The blackout of these stations began in the early hours of Feb. 2, impacting 26 stations in total. In five markets the impacted stations were the local CBS affiliate, which would have made Super Bowl LV unavailable to watch over traditional broadcast for AT&T customers in those markets.

The American Television Alliance (ATVA) had been extremely critical of the timing of the blackout, claiming that Cox has used the prospect of withholding the Super Bowl as a tactic in other retransmission negotiations.

Terms of the new agreement were not disclosed.

Here are the markets that had their CMG stations returned on Feb. 7:

• Alexandria, La. 
• Atlanta 
• Binghamton, N.Y. 
• Boston
• Charlotte, N.C. 
• Dayton, Ohio
• Eureka, Calif. 
• Greenville-Greenwood, Miss. 
• Idaho Falls-Pocatello, Idaho 
• Jacksonville, Fla. 
• Medford, Ore. 
• Memphis, Tenn. 
• Orlando, Fla.
• Pittsburgh 
• Seattle
• Spokane, Wash. 
• Syracuse, N.Y. 
• Tulsa, Okla.
• Yakima-Tri Cities, Wash. 
• Yuma, Ariz. 

DALLAS—AT&T's federal relations staff was making its case on Capitol Hill Friday, Feb. 5, for why the company, and its video viewers, were the aggrieved parties in its retransmission consent dispute with Cox Media Group and parent Apollo Global Management.

According to a source, the two sides continued to negotiate as AT&T reached out to legislators and Hill staffers, specifically staffers in offices of legislators whose constituents were affected by the blackouts, as well as the appropriate members of the Senate Commerce and House Energy & Commerce Committees that oversee communications issues. 

According to a copy of an e-mail to those legislators and Hill staffers providing an "Update on Negotiations with Cox Media Group" obtained by TV Tech's sister publications Multichannel News and Broadcasting + Cable, AT&T said that DirecTV customers in five Cox markets would lose their "preferred access" to the Super Bowl Feb. 7. (AT&T conceded that CBS and the NFL would both be live streaming it.)

AT&T said that did not have to be the case. "We are committed to continuing to negotiate with CMG to come to a resolution that is good for our customers," it said, but urged CMG in the meantime "to immediately return its local stations to our customers while we negotiate." 

Broadcasters argue that the rise in retransmission consent fees is because their high-value content is finally getting a market rate after years of being undervalued. They also argue that blackouts, or as they see them, the removal of a signal when the contract for its carriage expires without a new contract at a fair price, is a negotiating tool it would be unfair for the government to deny them.

"[I]n the midst of an ongoing pandemic and just before Super Bowl LV, CMG pulled its stations from our DirecTV, U-verse, and AT&T TV customers," AT&T told Congress.

The company said it had agreed to pay retroactively whatever rate they eventually agreed on in continuing negotiations (called a "true up") if CMG had continued to provide them the signal during those negotiations, but that, instead, "CMG put our shared customers into the middle of a private business matter by intentionally blacking out local stations in 20 markets," and "in the midst of an ongoing pandemic" as well as on the eve of the Big Game.

Given that legislators hear it from their constituents when there are blackouts that affect their districts, then let the companies hear it, AT&T wanted to make it clear that "without CMG’s consent, AT&T cannot retransmit its stations to our customers. ... We share our customers’ frustration and recognize it’s time to end this cycle of increasing fees and ongoing blackouts."

The letter cites National Association of Broadcasters President Gordon Smith, himself a former member of Congress, and assurances he gave during a C-SPAN interview that broadcasters “recognize the public responsibility to not have service interruptions during this time.” But Smith also said in that interview that it takes two and he hoped "the MVPDs share that same public spiritedness and give broadcasters fair value." 

"Stations owned by CMG and their parent company, Wall Street mammoth Apollo Global Management, have previously staged blackouts at the most inconvenient times for customers," AT&T told legislators. "But their decision to do so now – in the middle of a pandemic and just prior to the Super Bowl—represents a new low in the never-ending cycle of higher fees and blackouts."

DALLAS—With the current Cox Media Group and AT&T/DirecTV blackout removing CBS affiliates in five markets ahead of Super Bowl LV on Feb. 7, AT&T is letting its customers impacted know that there are other ways that they can watch Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs take on Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Among the possibilities for watching the game are using Locast, the nonprofit streamer that provides local stations over the internet; using a TV antenna; or live streaming at CBSSports.com or through the CBS Sports mobile app.

AT&T says that these services are available to their impacted customers at no additional cost.

“In what’s become an unfortunate near-annual rite to the NFL Playoffs, Cox Media Group is once again holding this year’s most-watched event of the year—the Super Bowl—hostage from NFL fans in Seattle and four smaller cities the broadcaster remains licensed to serve,” AT&T said in a press release.

Including Seattle, the markets where CBS has been pulled include Dayton, Ohio; Eureka, Calif.; Greenwood-Greenville, Miss.; and Yuma, Ariz.

The blackout of CMG stations for AT&T/DirecTV customers in 20 markets began on Feb. 2. AT&T said that it had offered to extend its current contract with CMG to keep stations on-air, paying a potential higher fee retroactively.

CMG has thus far laid the blame for the blackout on AT&T.

WASHINGTON—The American Television Alliance (ATVA) is putting on an all-out blitz against Cox Media Group and its parent company Apollo Global Management after CMG stations went dark for AT&T/DirecTV customers in 20 markets on Feb. 2, including the CBS affiliates in five markets, Seattle and Dayton, Ohio, among them, just days before Super Bowl LV.

ATVA already highlighted what it says is a pattern for CMG to use the Super Bowl as a bargaining chip in retransmission negotiations, but the organization is continuing to criticize CMG and Apollo, describing the removal of stations as a “brazen assault on consumers and profiteering that defies any reconciliation with broadcast industry promises” to avoid service interruptions during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

It isn’t just the timing ahead of the Super Bowl that has drawn the ire of ATVA, it also is critical of pulling stations in markets like Yuma, Ariz., and Eureka, Calif., where it says Apollo controls multiple Big Four network affiliations, as well as Greenville, Miss., where Apollo controls all four national broadcast network feeds.

“So, with a flick of a switch, Apollo has not only cut off all national network programming to AT&T subscribers in the Greenville market, but also most local TV news in the midst of a public health crisis in one of the 15 states with the most confirmed COVID cases per residents,” said Jessica Kendust, ATVA spokeswoman.

ATVA calls on the FCC to take action to prevent such local consolidation, saying that groups like Apollo will take every advantage they can.

“Apollo’s out-and-out price-gouging shows why these rules must be protected, strengthened and actually enforced to eliminate a stampede of greed at American consumers’ expense,” Kendust added.

In its press release, ATVA points to comments made by NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith in March 2020 at the onset of the pandemic, saying that “broadcasters don’t want to see service interruptions of any kind.”

ATVA counters that statement with the claim that 2020 saw a record number of blackouts (342) despite the impact of the pandemic.

CMG referred to a statement from Paul Curran, its executive vice president of Television, from the press release announcing the stations being dropped when TV Tech asked for a comment. Here is that statement:

“CMG viewers know our trusted local stations are there to deliver the news and information they need to make decisions for their families. Its disappointing that AT&T/DIRECTV has decided to deprive them of that access. We take pride in serving our communities and we will fight to continue to fulfill this responsibility.”

WASHINGTON—The American Television Alliance (ATVA) is displeased that Cox Media Group has once again gone to what it believes is a staple of their playbook - threatening or withdrawing stations carrying the Super Bowl as part of retransmission negotiations.

Stations in 20 markets went dark on Feb. 2 as CMG and AT&T/DirecTV failed to reach a retransmission deal. Among the stations impacted are a few CBS affiliates, which means that unless a deal is struck before 6:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 7, DirecTV customers in those markets will not be able to watch Super Bowl LV.

ATVA supports AT&T’s claim that CMG is the one causing the blackout. However, for its part, CMG cites AT&T’s reluctance to accept its offers.

Per ATVA, this tactic is a familiar one for CMG, as it is reportedly the fifth time they have threatened or withdrawn stations that are broadcasting the Super Bowl. Past instances involved Charter Spectrum, Dish Network, Verizon Fios and CableOne, ATVA details.

“This latest contrived blackout holding such an important national event like the Super Bowl hostage demonstrates how broadcasters like Cox Media Group intentionally cause maximum disruption and harm for consumers in order to extract exorbitant fees,” said ATVA spokeswoman Jessica Kendust. “The price-gouging behavior of broadcasters like Cox has become increasingly shameless and exploitative and demands action from policymakers in Washington.”

Kendust says that there is a correlation between the rise in the number of broadcast blackouts in the past decade and the “more than seven-fold” increase in station fees. The number of blackouts have risen to new heights in the last couple of years, particularly, with 278 in 2019 and 342 in 2020, according to ATVA.

ATVA wants policymakers to update retransmission consent laws so as to prevent broadcastings from weaponizing stations licenses and government-granted exclusivities.

ATLANTA—After giving a warning to its customers late last week, Cox Media Group has announced that stations in 20 markets went dark to AT&T/DirecTV customers in the early hours of Feb. 2 as a result of the two sides failing to reach a retransmission deal.

The stations (confirmed on their websites) and markets impacted by the black out are:

• KLAX-TV (ABC), Alexandria, La. 
• WSB-TV (ABC), Atlanta 
• WICZ-TV (Fox), Binghamton, N.Y.
• WFXT-TV (Fox), Boston
• WOSC-TV (ABC) & WAXN-TV (Ind.), Charlotte, N.C.
• WHIO-TV (CBS), Dayton, Ohio
• KIEM-TV (NBC), Eureka, Calif.
• WABG-TV (ABC), Greenville-Greenwood, Miss. 
• Idaho Falls-Pocatello, Idaho 
• WFOX-TV (Fox) & WFOX2-TV (MNT), Jacksonville, Fla.
• KMVU-TV (Fox), Medford, Ore.
• WHBQ-TV (Fox), Memphis, Tenn.
• WFTV-TV (ABC) & WRDQ-TV (Ind), Orlando, Fla.
• WPXI-TV (NBC), Pittsburgh
• KIRO-TV (CBS), Seattle
• KAYU-TV (Fox), Spokane, Wash.
• WSYT-TV (Fox), Syracuse, N.Y.
• KOKI-TV (Fox) & KMYT-TV (MNT), Tulsa, Okla.
• KFFX-TV (Fox), Yakima-Tri Cities, Wash.
• KYMA-TV (CBS, NBC), Yuma, Ariz.

CMG says AT&T/DirecTV was the one to pull the stations, describing AT&T as unwilling to make a deal and “sacrificing” critical news and entertainment sources for their customers.

“CMG viewers know our trusted local stations are there to deliver the news and information they need to make decisions for their families. It’s disappointing that AT&T/DirecTV has decided to deprive them of that access. We take pride in serving our communities and we will fight to continue to fulfill this responsibility,” said says Paul Curran, CMG’s executive vice president of Television.

AT&T gave the following statement to TV Tech regarding the blackout:

"We’re disappointed Cox Media Group and Wall Street financier Apollo Global Management have intentionally put our customers into the middle of a private business matter. We want to get the Cox stations back into their local lineups, but Cox and Apollo alone have exclusive control over which homes are allowed to receive ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CW in certain cities. And even though broadcasters like Cox keep losing viewers and sponsors, by commanding that exclusivity, they can demand take-it-or-leave-it ultimatums, leaving consumers a more than $12 billion-and-rising bill just to keep their ‘free TV.’ Apollo-owned stations have an extremely long and disreputable history of either threatening or pulling the Super Bowl and other important events from Buckland Telephone Co., CableOne, Charter Spectrum, DISH Network, Frontier Communications, Suddenlink, Verizon Fios and our own customers. Broadcasters like Cox gin up these contrived blackouts at the precise time it hurts their viewers the most, extract higher fees, and then use their own news outlets to try to intentionally mislead people and skirt any accountability for their relentless and unwarranted price-gouging. That’s a shameless violation of the public trust—especially from a local news provider during a global pandemic. Now that there’s a new administration, it’s high time the FCC takes a fresh look at this broken retransmission consent system that encourages blackouts and skyrocketing rate increases at consumers’ expense. We continue to work with Apollo and Cox to get to these stations back and appreciate our customers’ patience while we do."

If a deal is not reached quickly, viewers whose impacted are CBS affiliates could not have access to Super Bowl LV, which airs on CBS on Feb. 7.

ATLANTA—Cox Media Group is warning DirecTV customers for 14 stations that they could lose access to their local station in the early hours of Feb. 2 if the two sides are unable to reach a retransmission deal. CMG shared the news on the websites of the potentially impacted stations.

CMG said in these announcements that AT&T/DirecTV “has refused to negotiate a fair deal that recognizes the value customers place” on their local stations. While CMG says that is continuing to negotiate with AT&T, if no deal is reached the channels will blackout for DirecTV customers, losing their local news, sports and entertainment programming.

AT&T issued a statement via the TV Answer Man blog, saying:

“We’re disappointed to see Cox Media Group put our customers into the middle of a private business matter. We want to keep the Cox stations in their local lineups, but Cox alone has exclusive control over which homes are allowed to receive ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CW in certain cities. Cox-owned stations have a long history of either threatening or pulling the Super Bowl and other important events from our customers and other providers. We continue to work with Cox to try to avoid any unnecessary disruption and appreciate our customers’ patience while we do.”

Cox just recently settled an 18-day blackout with Altice USA/SuddenLink.

As for the current negotiations with AT&T/DirecTV, should negotiations fail, these are the 14 stations that would be impacted:

• WSB-TV (ABC), Atlanta 
• WFXT-TV (Fox), Boston 
• WSOC-TV (ABC), Charlotte, N.C. 
• WAXN-TV (IND), Charlotte 
• WHIO-TV (CBS), Dayton, Ohio 
• WFOX-TV (Fox), Jacksonville, Fla. 
• WFOX2-TV (MNT), Jacksonville 
• WHBQ-TV (Fox), Memphis, Tenn. 
• WFTV-TV (ABC), Orlando, Fla. 
• WRDQ-TV (IND), Orlando 
• WPXI-TV (NBC), Pittsburgh 
• KIRO-TV (CBS), Seattle 
• KOKI-TV (Fox), Tulsa, Okla. 
• KMYT-TV (MNT), Tulsa 

ATLANTA—Cox Media Group and Altice USA/Suddenlink have struck a retransmission consent deal for multiple stations in six markets.

The stations in Tulsa, Okla.; Memphis, Tenn.; Spokane, Wash.; Eureka, Calif.; Greenville-Greenwood, Miss; and Alexandria, La., have been off Suddenlink systems since Jan. 8, when Cox invoked the pandemic and the importance of local station connectivity to argue that Suddenlink had made and anti-consumer decision by not agreeing to a "fair market deal."

So did Suddenlink during the impasse, saying in a statement: “Despite being in the midst of a pandemic when access to affordable news is incredibly critical, Cox Media Group has pulled its channels from Suddenlink TV lineups in certain markets in an effort to extract an exorbitant increase in fees from us and our customers," Suddenlink, part of Altice U.S., said in a statement."

"The parties wish to thank consumers for their patience during this negotiation," the companies said in a statement announcing the pact.

Jon Lafayette contributed to this report.

UPDATED 1/11

ATLANTA—Ten Cox Media Group stations in six markets went dark on Friday night on SuddenLink channel lineups as the two sides were not able to reach a retransmission agreement.

The stations and markets impacted by this blackout are  in KOKI (Fox) in Tulsa, Okla.;  WHBQ (Fox) in Memphis, Tenn.; KAYU (Fox) in Spokane, Wash.; KIEM (NBC) and KVIQ (CBS) Eureka, Calif.; WABG (ABC), WXVT (CBS), WABG-DT2 (Fox) and WNBD-DT (NBC) in Greenville-Greenwood, Miss.; and KLAX (ABC) in Alexandria, La.

“Rather than reach a fair and reasonable deal with CMG, SuddenLink may instead choose to adversely impact their customers. Now, more than ever, viewers need daily access to important and evolving information on the pandemic, and social and political issues,” CMG said in its press release.

CMG says that SuddenLink customers can switch to another satellite, cable TV or streaming provider, or use an over-the-air antenna to access the station content that would be unavailable in the event of a blackout.

In its own announcement for the blackout, SuddenLink says CMG is responsible for pulling the channels and is seeking rates higher than any other broadcaster.

"Despite being in the midst of a pandemic when access to affordable news is incredibly crucial, Cox Media Group has pulled its channels from SuddenLink TV lineups in certain markets in an effort to extract an exorbitant increase in fees from us and our customers," SuddenLink said in its release. "With so many households across the nation struggling, we call on Cox Media Group to stop holding our customers hostage, return channels to our lineups and focus on working with us to negotiate a new deal that is fair to our customers."

ENGLEWOOD, Colo.—Dish and Cox Media Group have agreed to a multi-year deal that, in addition to carriage for local Northwest stations, will restore 14 Cox stations to Dish customers that have been blacked out since July.

The blackout occurred as the Dish and Cox Media Group, which is owned by Apollo Global Management, struggled to come to terms following Apollo’s acquisition of the Cox stations, which ultimately led to litigation that reached federal court.

Here are Cox stations that are returning to Dish:

• WSB-TV (ABC), Atlanta 
• WFXT-TV (Fox), Boston 
• WSOC-TV (ABC), Charlotte, N.C.  
• WAXN-TV (IND), Charlotte, N.C.  
• WHIO-TV (CBS), Dayton, Ohio  
• WFOX-TV (Fox), Jacksonville, Fla.  
• WFOX2-TV (MNT), Jacksonville, Fla. 
• WHBQ-TV (Fox), Memphis, Tenn.  
• WFTV-TV (ABC), Orlando, Fla.  
• WRDQ-TV (IND), Orlando, Fla. 
• WPXI-TV (NBC), Pittsburgh  
• KIRO-TV (CBS), Seattle 
• KOKI-TV (Fox), Tulsa, Okla. 
• KMYT-TV (MNT), Tulsa, Okla 

The terms of the agreement were not shared.

Dish is currently in another retransmission dispute, this one with Nexstar, which has resulted in 164 stations across 115 markets being blacked out for customers. 

ATLANTA—For the first time in four months, this past weekend had live, meaningful team sports with the start of the 2020 Major League Baseball season. But as a retransmission dispute between Cox Media Group stations and Dish led to a blackout for many Dish subscribers, these games were nowhere to be found.

The dispute, which began last week and impacts 14 stations in 10 markets, came as a result of a court decision that lifted a restraining order on Apollo Global Management, Cox’s parent company, to interfere with Dish’s retransmission of the stations. Both sides place blame on the other in the ongoing dispute and the resulting black out.

Cox, however, has added that the loss of vital services—local news, weather and entertainment—now includes the inability to watch the return of professional baseball. 

Cox said that viewers in Boston, Jacksonville, Fla., Memphis, Tenn., and Tulsa, Okla., will not be able to watch MLB broadcasts on Fox.

“It is deeply disappointing that Dish customers will miss the games—especially during a time when watching sports and cheering on their favorite teams can offer a positive diversion,” Cox Media Group said in a statement. The company also shared that it currently has agreements in place with all other major cable and satellite providers in the U.S.

“Again, we implore Dish to restore the Cox Media Group stations and work with us to come to a fair agreement,” the statement concluded.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. & ATLANTA—A total of 14 Cox Media Group stations in 10 markets have gone dark to Dish subscribers, and both sides are pointing fingers at the other.

Dish says that it is in the middle of litigation with Cox Media Group parent company Apollo Global Management over whether Dish’s carriage agreement for the Cox stations was prematurely terminated after the stations were acquired by Apollo. A temporary restraining order that prevented Apollo from interfering with Dish’s retransmission of these stations was issued in January by the Cook County (Illinois) Circuit Court. 

However, the case has now been transferred to a federal court, which lifted the restraining order. Cox Media Group called the decision an end to “the latest misguided efforts by Dish to avoid agreeing to reach a fair market carriage agreement” for the stations.

In a press release announcing the court ruling and subsequent black out, CMG offered a statement from the federal court that said CMG “cannot prevent Dish from retransmitting the stations. They go dark only if Dish so chooses,” and that any blackout is a result of the provider not willing to negotiate.

Here are the stations currently blacked out on Dish:

• WSB-TV (ABC), Atlanta 
• WFXT-TV (Fox), Boston 
• WSOC-TV (ABC), Charlotte, N.C. 
• WAXN-TV (IND), Charlotte, N.C. 
• WHIO-TV (CBS), Dayton, Ohio 
• WFOX-TV (Fox), Jacksonville, Fla. 
• WFOX2-TV (MNT), Jacksonville, Fla. 
• WHBQ-TV (Fox), Memphis, Tenn. 
• WFTV-TV (ABC), Orlando, Fla. 
• WRDQ-TV (IND), Orlando, Fla. 
• WPXI-TV (NBC), Pittsburgh 
• KIRO-TV (CBS), Seattle 
• KOKI-TV (Fox), Tulsa, Okla. 
• KMYT-TV (MNT), Tulsa, Okla. 

Dish claims that it has offered Apollo to keep its current arrangement, with higher rates, to keep the stations on the air, particularly during the current COVID-19 pandemic, and continue negotiations, but they say Apollo has refused and demands a 40% increase to rates that were agreed upon last year.

CMG called Dish’s offers to keep the stations on air “feeble and disingenuous,” arguing that it preferred to use the courts in the dispute. It says that it wants a fair market deal for retransmission and meaningful negotiations to achieve a mutually beneficial agreement. CMG also said that Dish has unfairly targeted Apollo as the negotiations are related only to CMG.

Earlier this year, another 10 Cox stations were blacked out for Dish subscribers, but the two sides agreed to get the stations back on air because of COVID-19. None of those stations are the same as the ones being blacked out in this latest instance.

This story has been updated to include information provided from a Cox Media Group press release.

NEW YORK—ViacomCBS and Cox Media Group have announced a multi-year deal that will renew CBS Television Network affiliation agreements for five CMG stations.

Among the five stations are two in the top 50, KIRO-TV in Seattle and WJAX-TV in Jacksonville, Fla.; CMG provides operational services to WJAX-TV licensee Hoffman Communications, who approved the deal. The other stations included in this deal are WHIO in Dayton, Ohio; KYMA in Yuma-El Centro, Ariz.; and KVIQ in Eureka, Calif.

In total, the five markets served by these stations reach nearly 3% of the U.S., which comes out to nearly 3 million households.

As part of the deal, CMG’s CBS affiliates will continue to be locally available to subscribers on CBS All Access. 

Earlier in 2020, ViacomCBS and CMG reached a separate affiliation renewal agreement for WXVT-LD in Greenville/Greenwood, Miss.

RESTON, Va.—Comscore has achieved a major milestone: providing 1,000 local TV station clients with its local television audience measurement and demographic services.

“This is a monumental moment for Comscore and our customers,” said Bill Livek, CEO, Comscore. “Reaching this milestone is a testament of how our customers are looking for advanced ways to better service their clients and improve their profitability using Comscore’s services.”

The company, which this year marks its 10th anniversary, measures television viewership from return path devices across tens of millions of households in all local markers. Using this technique enables Comscore to look more closely, beyond age and gender, to transact on consumer behaviors, interests and lifestyles, the company said.

Comscore announced June 9 that it had inked a deal to provide Cox Media Group with local TV measurement services in six new markets, including Syracuse, N.Y.; Spokane; Wash.; Idaho Falls; Eureka, Calif.; Binghamton, N.Y.; and Alexandria, La. The deal also extends TV measurement in Yuma, Ariz.; Medford, Wash.; and Greenwood, Miss., it said.

More information is available on the Comscore website. 

ATLANTA—Daniel York, the former senior executive vice president and chief content officer for AT&T and DirecTV, has been tapped as the new president and CEO of Cox Media Group, effective immediately.

York takes over the role after it was announced in April that Kim Guthrie was exiting  after 22 years. 

As president and CEO, York will be responsible for all aspects of managing the company’s media platforms and will oversee the company’s long-term strategic priorities, per the official announcement. 

Cox Media Group is currently in the middle of a transition period after a majority of its stations were acquired by Apollo Global Management in February 2019.

“[York] has a background of success in media, content, distribution, operations and successfully leading large organizations,” said Steve Pruett, CMG’s executive chairman. “Most importantly, he embraces contemporary thinking as the media landscape continues to evolve. We have full confidence he is the right person to lead CMG in the next phase of the company’s growth.”

York gave his own statement on his appointment: “I am excited to lead Cox Media Group, a company that has the most talented team and leadership in the industry. I have always admired and respected the unparalleled quality of CMG’s 90+ TV and radio stations, digital and advertising platforms, and the company’s unwavering commitment to journalistic integrity. The past few months have underscored that there is no substitute for the most important and valuable content in the ecosystem, market-leading local news and entertainment. I look forward to working with the Board and the CMG team as we continue to enhance our partnerships with our advertisers, content providers and distribution outlets to best serve our communities and millions of viewers and listeners.” 

ATLANTA & SEATTLE—Greg Bilte, after a 41-year career in television broadcasting, will be retiring from his current position as vice president and general manager at Seattle’s CBS affiliate, KIRO-TV, on June 30, according to Cox Media Group.

Bilte’s career began in 1979 as an account executive at KXLY in Spokane, Wash., before he took on roles at Telerep and as a national sales manager for KTTV-Fox in Los Angeles. 

In 1995, Bilte began working from CMG at KTVU-Fox in San Francisco as a national and local sales manager, before eventually being promoted to general sales manager first for the sister station KICU and then for KTVU. In 2013, Bilte was promoted to vice president/general manager of CMG’s KOMI-Fox and KMYT-MyNet in Tulsa, Okla. Then in 2016, he took over in his current role for KIRO-TV.

“The common themes that have been plainly evident throughout Greg’s career are his dedication to the communities he has served and the meaningful relationships he has developed with his employees and customers,” said Paul Curran, CMG’s executive vice president of television. “We will miss him but are incredibly happy that Greg will now have ample time to dedicate to his family in this next chapter of his life.”

“While I do look forward to my retirement, I will miss my team and colleagues at CMG and am extremely grateful for their rich friendships I have built during my career here,” said Bilte.

CMG said that Bilte’s replacement at KIRO has not yet been named.

ATLANTA—Kim Guthrie is exiting the roles of president and chief executive officer after 22 years with Cox Media Group, the company announced.

Steve Pruett, executive chairman of CMG, will serve as interim CEO until a permanent selection is hired. Guthrie is expected to assist Pruett on the transition.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, we would like to thank Kim for her decades of service to Cox Media Group and her leadership during the company’s transition to new ownership,” said Pruett. “She has been instrumental in positioning CMG for future success as an industry-leading media company.”

The new leadership that Pruett refers to is the majority acquisition of CMG TV stations by Apollo Global Management, which was first announced in February 2019.

“We have built a strong foundation for future growth, including an exceptional senior management team, a successful carveout from Cox Enterprises and deep, long-term relationships with our communities, customers and partners,” said Guthrie. “I have full confidence in this great team at CMG and I look forward to watching CMG’s future achievements.”

ATLANTA—Cox Media Group has unveiled its new corporate logo, which was the result of an internal contest that drew 250 entries from more than 100 CMG employees, according to the company. The final logo was selected among three finalists, voted on by both CMG employees and a national research study.

The winning logo (shown above) was designed by Kim Colombero, art director for CMG-TV in Jacksonville, Fla. Colombero is an experienced graphic artist and art director.

The logo features the company’s CMG initials in a way that is reflective of its “people-centric philosophy,” the announcement said. The “C” and “G” are in a deeper shade of blue, but the “M” features the brand’s collective bright hues and formed in artful manner that plays to the company’s legacy of competition, collaboration, diversity and inclusion.

“We are building this company together and our people are putting their thumbprint on it in all corners of our business,” said Kim Guthrie, president and CEO of CMG. “We now have our new, modern logo to help define our brand for years to come.”

PHILADELPHIA —A number of internet service providers and broadband providers, including Comcast and Cox Media Group, have announced plans to help ensure connectivity for users during the coronavirus pandemic that is keeping many people home.

Comcast’s plan is offering new, low-income Internet Essentials customers two months of free internet and increased speed, as well as making Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspots across the U.S. free for use by anyone, including non-Xfinity internet subscribers. In addition, Comcast is pausing its data plans so that all customers can use unlimited data for no additional charge, while also eliminating the threat of disconnect or late fees to customers who contact Comcast about difficulty paying bills during this period; flexible payment options will be available. Other resources will include educational collections accessible for X1 customers by saying “education” into an X1 or Flex voice remote, and 24/7 network support.

All of these services will be offered for the next 60 days.

Cox, meanwhile, has announced it has activated its Business Continuity Plan designed for pandemic situations. This will ensure the continuation of services and establish ongoing communications as circumstances evolve, says Cox. Cox also says it has available gig speeds to help people who now may be working from home, as well as a low-income broadband program. It will also explore ways to expand initiatives as a result of school closings.

Other ISPs and broadband providers have been adapting their offerings to meet needs amid the coronavirus pandemic. For instance, AT&T last week signed FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s Keep Americans Connected Pledge and is offering video-conferencing and conference call services to businesses and schools.

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) has also praised the efforts of ISPs for ensuring broadband connections.

“The coronavirus outbreak is already creating an unprecedented need for teleworking, telehealth and online education technology,” said Warner. “I’m glad to see certain companies quickly responding to our letter and putting a pause on restrictive caps, fees and other policies that could interfere with online access during this critical time. I’m also pleased to see companies committing to expanding broadband access for students who may not have it so that their educations are not completely disrupted during school closures. I call on those internet providers that have not taken similar steps to do so immediately, in order to assist their fellow Americans during this time of great national strain.”

ATLANTA—Cox Media Group and Dish Network have announced that they have put an end to the retransmission contract dispute that has impacted 10 markets across the U.S. so those viewers can have access to critical information regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

According to Cox, network stations from ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC have been blacked out in these areas since mid-January:

•  Binghamton, N.Y. 
•  Syracuse, N.Y. 
•  Medford, Ore. 
•  Spokane, Wash. 
•  Yakima-Tri Cities, Wash. 
•  Yuma, Ariz. 
•  Alexandria, La. 
•  Eureka, Calif. 
•  Greenville-Greenwood, Miss. 
•  Idaho Falls-Pocatello, Idaho 

All of the stations have been restored in these areas, effective immediately.

“We are pleased to be able to restore these channels on Dish so that our viewers in these communities can be informed and able to make the right decisions for the safety of their families,” said Kim Guthrie, CEO of Cox Media Group. “We appreciate Dish’s cooperation in agreeing to suspend our dispute so that we can help our viewers navigate through this uncertain time.”

It is unclear whether this is will lead to a permanent resolution or that the retransmission dispute and blackout will again take place at a time when the coronavirus is no longer considered a national emergency.

WASHINGTON—Arc Publishing, the digital platform for content publishing from the Washington Post, is increasing its reach in the broadcast industry with the announcement that is has licensed its technology to Gray Television, Cox Media Group and Oregon Public Broadcasting. Arc now helps with digital experiences and content creation for more than 200 broadcast stations in the U.S. and Europe.

The trio of broadcasters will use Arc’s full suite of editorial tools, including its advanced video capabilities. This includes a collaboration with Amazon Web Services that provides AWS Media Services for video asset management and the ability to set up live video channels or clip and edit live and on-demand video in real time for immediate distribution.

Other features that are a part of Arc designed specifically for broadcasters are adding graphics to live video, autoclipping content for use in different stories and dynamically inserting ads into digital video streams. Multinational broadcasters can offer digital rights management and the ability to target content to publish in specific time zones. For newsrooms, Arc also has Broadcast, a live video app for streaming high-quality live video to multiple sites and social platforms simultaneously.

Arc will now be available for Gray Television’s stations and digital properties in 93 TV markets, Cox’s 71 stations and digital properties across 16 markets and Oregon Public Broadcasting’s radio and TV stations across the Pacific Northwest.

TYSONS, Va.—Apollo has made two different buyout proposals to Tegna so far in 2019; Tegna confirmed the news in a statement released on Wednesday, Aug. 21.

Tegna says that the first buyout proposal from Apollo came via a letter in February, where Apollo said that it was interested in acquiring Tegna, but did not specify a price. Apollo followed up again in June with a new proposal, in which it would combine Tegna with broadcasting assets Apollo is in the process of buying. This proposal would not have resulted in a change of control for Tegna, the company said in its statement.

Apollo is currently in the process of buying the Cox TV stations following Cox Enterprises’ agreement to sell a majority interest in Cox Media Group earlier this year. Cox Media Group owns 13 TV stations and other assets. That deal is valued at $3 billion, per reports.

Tegna said that it does not intend to update the disclosure.

MONTEREY, Calif.—Apollo Global Management’s Cox Media Group and Northwest Broadcasting deals and Nexstar Media Group’s divestiture of 19 stations to win FCC approval of its Tribune Media acquisition helped to propel merger and acquisition activity in the U.S. broadcast market to $5.1 billion, according to Kagan, a media research group with S&P Global Market Intelligence.

The quarterly deal volume, the highest since the second quarter of 2007, was propelled by Apollo’s $3.1 billion purchase of a majority stake in Cox Media, which included 14 full-power and nine low-power TV stations, four radio stations and a newspaper, as well as its $384 million purchase of a majority stake in Northwest Broadcasting, the researcher said.

The other major M&A activity centered on Nexstar divestitures. The company sold a total of 19 stations in 15 markets for $1.32 billion to E.W. Scripps and TEGNA, a move needed to win regulatory approval for its December 2018 deal to merge with Tribune Media.

Gray Television boosted the quarterly deal total by $45 million with its acquisition of two CBS affiliates, WWNY serving Watertown and upstate New York and KEYC-TV serving southwestern Minnesota, Kagan said.

Radio deal volume for the quarter hit nearly $237 million, half of which involved Cumulus Media.