Cox Communications, Inc., Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. and Mission Broadcasting, Inc. today announced that the companies have signed a retransmission consent agreement for analog and digital carriage rights. The deal includes 12 Nexstar stations and 9 Mission stations serving the following Designated Market Areas: Abilene-Sweetwater, San Angelo, Lubbock, Amarillo, Odessa-Midland and Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas; Shreveport, La.; Fort Smith, Little Rock and Monroe-El Dorado, Ark.; Springfield and Joplin, Mo. and Pittsburg, Kan.
The agreement means that Cox customers in San Angelo, Texas can again enjoy KLST/CBS on Cox Cable. KTAL/NBC returns to the Cox lineup in Bossier City and Minden, La., as well as Magnolia, Ark. and Mt. Pleasant, Texas. KRBC/NBC (a Mission Broadcasting station) is again available to Cox customers in Abilene, Sweetwater and Snyder, Texas. Without permission from Nexstar and Mission to carry these broadcast signals, Cox was required to remove these channels from the lineups in the impacted markets last January.
"We are pleased to welcome these Nexstar and Mission stations back to Cox Cable," said Pat Esser, chief operating officer. "We regret the inconvenience to our customers while we negotiated these deals, which will help keep cable prices reasonable, fair and competitive. We also thank our loyal customers who stuck with us through this challenging time."
Nexstar Broadcasting Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Perry A. Sook commented, "As has been previously reported, Nexstar refused to grant retransmission consent without receiving adequate compensation. Although the confidentiality provisions limit Nexstar and Cox from discussing publicly the financial aspects of this agreement, we are pleased to have reached an economic agreement that is acceptable to both parties. This agreement encompasses all of the Nexstar and Mission stations carried on Cox cable systems. Going forward, we anticipate a mutually beneficial relationship between the companies."
"We highly value the local and national programming that the Nexstar and Mission stations deliver to our customers," said Debbie Cullen, director of programming. "We are pleased to have reached this agreement with Mission and Nexstar, which meets all of our original objectives. The deal demonstrates that broadcasters and cable operators can reach terms that are mutually agreeable and in the best interest of consumers. Our innovative agreement provides for incremental value to all parties, while giving Cox the long-term rights to carry the primary analog and digital signals of the Nexstar and Mission stations."
ABOUT COX COMMUNICATIONS (www.cox.com/espanol)
Cox Communications Inc., a Fortune 500 company, is a multi-service broadband communications company with approximately 6.7 million total customers, including approximately 6.3 million basic cable subscribers. The nation's third-largest cable television provider, Cox offers analog cable television under the Cox Cable brand as well as digital video service under the Cox Digital Cable brand, featuring advanced services including digital video recording, high-definition television and video-on-demand. Cox provides an array of other communications services including local and long-distance telephone under the Cox Digital Telephone brand, high-speed Internet service under the Cox High Speed Internet brand, and home networking. Commercial voice and data services are offered via Cox Business Services. Local cable advertising, promotional opportunities and production services are sold under the Cox Media brand. Cox is an investor in programming services including Discovery Communications Inc. Cox Communications is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc.
ABOUT NEXSTAR BROADCASTING
Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc. currently owns, operates, programs or provides sales and other services to 47 television stations in 27 markets in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Texas, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama and New York. Nexstar's television station group includes affiliates of NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX and UPN, and reaches approximately 7.4% of all U.S. television households.
Media Contacts:
Cox Communications
Ellen East
(404) 843-5281
Ellen.East@cox.com
Duane Lammers
Chief Operating Officer
Nexstar Broadcasting
(812) 696-2121
dlammers@nexstar.tv
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