How do retrans lead to blackouts?

How do retrans lead to blackouts?

When pay TV providers refuse to pay skyrocketing retrans fees, the broadcasters use TV viewers as pawns and black out their programming. This pressure allows broadcasters to extort even more money from pay TV providers, who risk losing customers if they don’t give in to broadcasters’ demands. By timing the expiration of carriage agreements before big television events (playoff games, award shows), broadcasters can demand even more money in fees.

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