DIRECTV has filed a motion to compel Nexstar, Mission Broadcasting, and White Knight Broadcasting to release documents in an ongoing antitrust lawsuit regarding retransmission consent negotiations. The pay-TV provider alleges the broadcasters improperly used attorney-client privilege to conceal evidence of illegal coordination and price-fixing.
The outcome of this motion could expose internal communications that clarify how broadcasters manage stations under shared services agreements. If the court applies the crime-fraud exception to attorney-client privilege, it would set a significant precedent for how pay-TV providers challenge the independence of station groups during carriage disputes. This case highlights the increasing friction between distributors and broadcasters as the industry faces heightened regulatory scrutiny over market consolidation. Watch for the November 4 hearing to see if the judge orders the immediate production of the disputed records or imposes financial penalties on Nexstar for discovery delays.
DIRECTV has filed a motion seeking sanctions against Nexstar Media Group, alleging the broadcaster improperly withheld documents in an ongoing antitrust lawsuit. The pay-TV provider claims these records contain evidence of illegal price-fixing and coordinated negotiations. A federal judge will address the motion and potential sanctions during a hearing on November 4.
DIRECTV alleges that Nexstar improperly used attorney-client privilege to withhold 751 documents that may contain evidence of illegal price-fixing and coordinated negotiations.
A federal judge has scheduled a hearing for November 4 to address the motion to compel and potential sanctions.
Local affiliates for ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC have remained dark for approximately one million DIRECTV subscribers since October 2022.
The motion alleges that Nexstar executives Dana Zimmer and Elizabeth Ryder exchanged confidential pricing data with a third-party negotiator for Mission Broadcasting and White Knight Broadcasting.
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