An ongoing carriage dispute with AT&T has resulted in the removal of more than 120 Nexstar stations across 97 markets from AT&T's DirecTV, DirecTV Now and U-verse platforms, beginning at 11:59 p.m. on July 3, 2019.
(meta data) TITLE: AT&T DirecTV and Nexstar dispute: Channels blacked out starting July 4 (meta data) AUTHOR: https://www.facebook.com/therealbargainista SUBSCRIBE NOWto get home delivery Get the news # Nexstar stations blacked out on AT&T DirecTV and U-verse amid contract dispute Kelly Tyko, USA TODAY Published 1:52 p.m. ET July 4, 2019 | Updated 2:16 p.m. ET July 4, 2019CLOSE Internet users can now stream live TV using DirecTV Now. The streaming service offers an extensive channel list cheaper than most cable providers. USA TODAY NETWORK Some DirecTV and AT&T U-verse subscribers woke up Thursday to find they lost access to Nexstar stations. More than 120 stations in 97 markets across the nation, which include ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC affiliate stations, went dark at 11:59 p.m. local time July 3 after Nexstar and AT&T were unable to reach an agreement, both sides said in competing statements that each blame the other for the blackout. "Nexstar has removed its channels from your lineup even though we offered Nexstar more money to keep them available to you," AT&T said in its statement posted at https://tvpromise.att.com. "Nexstar simply said no and elected to remove them from your lineups instead, putting you in the middle of its negotiations." According to Nexstar's statement, AT&T "unilaterally dropped the network and local community programming" and refused to extend the existing distribution agreement to Aug. 2. Secrets and privacy: DNA testing can share all your family secrets. Are you ready for that? Protect yourself: 4 chilling lessons from a tech hotline scam For the first time, more households subscribe to a digital streaming service than to a traditional pay TV subscription. Buzz60's Sean Dowling has more. ## What's next? Disputes between content providers and cable and satellite providers aren't uncommon as companies try to negotiate new deals. In its statement, Nexstar, also known as Nexstar Broadcasting Group, says it owns, operates, programs or provides sales and other services to 174 full power television stations and related digital multicast signals reaching 100 markets or nearly 39% of all U.S. television households. ***Attention WHBF DIRECTV customers! DIRECTV has yet to reach a new distribution agreement that would allow the television provider the right to continue to air Nexstar Broadcasting Stations, including WHBF—which means viewers have lost WHBF and all of its CBS programming. pic.twitter.com/HcQI5hZPW0 — Local 4 WHBF (@Local4NewsWHBF) July 4, 2019 "Nexstar remains eager to complete an agreement with DIRECTV consistent with those it has made with every other cable, satellite and telco provider in order to end DIRECTV's action that is both unnecessary and punitive to its subscribers," Nexstar's statement said. AT&T, which is the largest pay TV provider in the U.S., with 24.5 million subscribers, said it also is open to negotiating. Unfortunately, Nexstar has removed stations from some of our customers' lineups. We want to get them back as soon as possible. Learn more here: https://t.co/TmAdMK8IHf — DIRECTV Service (@DIRECTVService) July 4, 2019 "We share your frustration and are working to return your local channels as soon as possible," AT&T's statement said. "These types of disputes are often resolved quickly, and we hope that will be the case this time." ## How to watch your shows AT&T says subscribers who lost access have some options. "Most of these stations can be viewed over the air or online at the station websites. You should be able to find station websites by searching online for the name of the local station," AT&T said noting most major networks stream primetime series on websites and apps. Nexstar offered additional options in its statement. "Viewers affected by the loss of service from DIRECTV have several alternatives to continue watching their favorite shows including local cable providers, DISH, over-the-air, certain subscription streaming television services, and services such as Verizon's FIOS," Nexstar said. Follow USA TODAY reporter Kelly Tyko on Twitter: @KellyTyko Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/07/04/at-t-directv-and-nextar-dispute-channels-blacked-out-independence-day/1648807001/Share your feedback to help improve our site experience!
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Nexstar Media Group
History.:2017–present: Proposed merger with Tribune Media.
The merge would give the company 216 stations in 118 markets, placing it just below the FCC's market cap of 39% of TV households and making it the largest owner of television stations in the United States. Nexstar plans to divest some stations and "non-core" assets as part of the merger. 
 On March 20, 2019, Nexstar announced that it would divest 19 stations to the E. W. Scripps Company and Tegna Inc. for a total sum of $1.32 billion, with Scripps receiving eight stations (WPIX-TV, WSFL-TV, WTKR and WGNT, WTVR-TV, WXMI, KSTU, and KASW), and Tegna eleven (WATN-TV and WLMT, WTIC-TV and WCCT-TV, WOI-DT and KCWI, WNEP, WPMT, WQAD-TV, WZDX, and KFSM-TV). The sale agreement for WPIX-TV New York, however, includes a condition allowing Nexstar to buy it back between March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2021. That station was valued at $75 million. Nexstar stated that these divestitures would be used to help fund the sale and cover debt. 
 On April 3, 2019, Marshall Broadcasting Group sued Nexstar for breach of contract, alleging that the company was trying to "undermine" its operations so it could buy back the stations at a later date and lower cost in the present regulatory environment. The company also accused Nexstar of using the divestiture of stations to a minority-owned broadcaster as a token to gain FCC approval for the associated acquisitions.