DIRECTV REQUESTS RETURN OF 27 MISSION and White Knight BROADCASTING STATIONS IN PUBLIC INTEREST

Live and local news remain important tools for civic engagement and education. That’s why DIRECTV today asked Mission Broadcasting and White Knight Broadcasting to return their 27 local stations to DIRECTV customers through at least the final results of the Nov. 8 midterm elections. DIRECTV has a standing offer to both Mission and White Knight, strongly urging the two broadcasters to return all stations immediately to impacted DIRECTV customers in 25 Nielsen DMAs. In return, DIRECTV will pay Mission and White Knight whatever higher retransmission consent rates the parties eventually agree upon retroactively to the date the signals are reinstated.

Both Mission and White Knight are managed and controlled by America’s largest broadcast conglomerate Nexstar Media Group, which is currently no longer allowing access to local programming and important political conversation ahead of the mid-terms to an estimated 4 million homes across the U.S. White Knight Broadcasting pulled its NBC and FOX affiliates from DIRECTV services beginning Oct. 7. Nexstar then pulled its local broadcast stations and national news service NewsNation from Verizon FIOS homes on Oct. 14. Mission went dark starting Oct. 21. Since that time, Nexstar has used news anchors, newscasts, and news sites to promote Nexstar’s (NASDAQ: NXST) financial interests.

This is a critical time in American political life. We are less than two weeks from one of the most important Congressional midterm elections in American History, and gubernatorial elections in 36 states. The results of this midterm will have a profound impact on some of the most important political, public health and economic issues of our time.

Broadcasters like Nexstar, Mission and White Knight claim a unique and special role in delivering news to Americans. The broadcast industry is, even now, asking Congress to provide it with special regulatory protections because, in the words of its trade association:

“Local radio and TV stations provide a lifeline for our communities. From investigative reports to breaking news and weather coverage, they invest significant resources to keep Americans informed about critical events. And while misinformation runs rampant on social media, broadcasters provide ‘just the facts’ reporting, utilizing fact checking teams to provide the most trusted news to communities.” 

During the COVID-19 global pandemic in March 2020, Mission and Nexstar returned stations to DISH customers that had been suspended since Jan. 3 to keep citizens informed as the health crisis unfolded. DIRECTV now calls upon Mission and White Knight to return stations operated by Nexstar through the conclusion of the critical mid-term election while the parties continue to work privately toward a new agreement.

Stations Affected

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