Verizon/Fios dropped Pittsburgh’s NBC-affiliate WPXI-TV 11, from its lineup Monday after refusing multiple offers to extend negotiations for a new carriage agreement for the market’s top local TV station. The telecom giant is blocking viewers’ access to breaking local news and weather, emergency information, live major sports, and other popular entertainment programming.
This decision by Verizon/Fios comes as key NFL matchups are set to air; college football nears the playoffs; and NBA, college basketball, and holiday programming get into full swing.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR VERIZON FIOS CUSTOMERS
“WPXI-TV is proud of our commitment to investing in high-quality local news and investigative journalism. The latest actions of Verizon/Fios threaten those investments and hurt consumers who rely on us for local news, weather, and a robust slate of sports and other popular entertainment programming,” said Kevin Hayes, Vice President and General Manager, WPXI-TV. “Verizon/Fios should stop holding its own customers hostage in its attempts to harm local journalism and community service, all while it tries to get even larger at the expense of our loyal viewers.”
Verizon, a Fortune 30 company, is set to get even bigger through acquisition while aggressively trying to undermine the value of local broadcast stations, harming its customers, our local audiences and communities. Verizon continues to flex its power to disadvantage local broadcast stations like WPXI-TV, which deliver the most-viewed and most-valuable content on Verizon/Fios’s lineup.
“Verizon/Fios dropping WPXI and blocking its customers from accessing local news and programming is their latest bullying tactic to try to harm local journalism,” said Hayes. “We remain committed to negotiating in good faith to secure a fair carriage agreement, just as we’ve done with all of the dozens of other TV providers that continue to deliver our award-winning station to viewers.”
Viewers should call Verizon/Fios at 1-800-837-4966 and demand they put WPXI-TV back in its lineup at www.xfinity.com, DIRECTV at www.directv.com, DISH Network at www.dish.com or other local providers.
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