Judge dismisses DirecTV antitrust lawsuit against Nexstar

A federal judge has rejected THE antitrust trial that DirectTV deposit against Nextstar last year accusing THE TV station giant of pricing In connection with It is retransmission consent negotiations with THE Satellite TV platform.

DirecTV suit, deposit In New York From South District In March 2023, accused Nextstar of engaging In pricing activity around THE retransmission consent costs Since MVPD that to have become A key source of income For local station the owners. In her decision issued March 20, Judge P. Kevin Castle rejected THE deposit, without prejudice, argue that DirectTV doesn't suffer enough significant harm In It is dispute with Nextstar And related TV station the owners has to guarantee A antitrust complaint.

“DirecTV injuries are Also indirect And speculative has confer antitrust standing," Castle wrote.

In A statement, DirectTV declared through A spokesperson, "This decision sets A dangerous previous that A victim of pricing needs has pay THE swollen price Before he can TO DO A claim In court." THE Satellite TV supplier East said has be strongly considering A call.

THE case stem Since THE breakdown of negotiations on TV station retransmission consent terms between DirectTV And stations possesses by Assignment Diffusion And White Knight Diffusion. Both of those diffusers are financially affiliated with Nextstar Media Band, which East THE the nation the biggest operator of TV stations. DirecTV trial accused Nextstar of conspire with Assignment And White Knight leaders has request big increase In retransmissions costs In exchange For renew THE contracts that allow DirectTV has to carry local broadcast stations. DirectTV argued that Nextstar, Assignment And White Knight in connivance In order has together A new ground price For retransmissions costs For Nextstar stations When THE time came has renew those retransmissions contracts with DirecTV.

DirectTV argued that he lost clients In Assignment And White Knight markets because he could No longer offer their stations as part of It is channel wrap. Assignment possesses several dozen stations through 26 markets In THE WE., including WPIX-TV New York.

RELATED NEWS: Nextstar Stations And NewsNation Go Dark on DirectTV as Carriage Contract Expires

THE 17 pages decision find that DirectTV had plausible points In It is deposit, but In THE big picture, THE judge rejected THE legal argument that DirectTV had has been hurt by antitrust behavior on Nextstar part.

“The plaintiff theory East as follows: (1) Accused required supracompetitive prices; (2) Applicant did not renew It is retransmission contract; (3) The accused stations were blackened out on DirectTV; (4) the subscribers LEFT DirectTV because of THE power outages = blackout resulting In lost profits. This theory East speculative because he rests on two critical hypotheses: that absent The accused collusive requests THE evenings would be to have reached A agreement, And that had THE evenings agreed, the subscribers would be not to have LEFT DirecTV, » THE judge wrote. "There East No path of awareness if, And on What terms, THE evenings would be to have agreed, And if because of such A agreement, the subscribers would be to have stayed with DirectTV. Further away, The applicant injury East indirect, as DirectTV did not pay upper prices, but complaints has to have suffered by losing clients due has THE power outages = blackout. »

THE decision quoted similar dispute that THE city of Oakland brought In 2018 against THE the city ancient NFL team, THE The looters, accusing THE team And THE league of manipulate THE walk For NFL teams In order has TO DO THE city pay more For A new stadium. That case was Also rejected.

In answer has THE decision, A Nextstar spokesperson declared, "GOOD to leave THE courts decision talk For himself. »