Nexstar Local Stations, Including New York’s WPIX, And Cable’s NewsNation Go Dark On Optimum In Carriage Dispute
deadline.comTwo million subscribers of Optimum pay-TV systems are going without 63 Nexstar Media Group local stations and cable network NewsNation due to a carriage dispute.
The network and stations went dark at 5 p.m. ET on Optimum, which is owned by the U.S. arm of French telecom giant Altice. Like other pay-TV operators, Altice has struggled with cord-cutting and has articulated a view about the video business being less essential than it has historically been given growth in its broadband and wireless operations.
Patrick Drahi, the European tycoon who runs parent company Altice, is burdened by significant debt and shrinking valuations for some of his key holdings.
The impasse comes during a crowded period for college football and NFL playoff games. The CW, which is owned by Nexstar, also has the largest concentration of affiliates under the Nexstar roof, and has been putting up solid viewership numbers for primetime draws like WWE NXT and All-American.
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