Markey, Other Senate Dems Seek Resolution of Univision-Verizon Retrans Dispute
Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and five other Senate Democrats urged Verizon and Univision Wednesday to settle their retransmission dispute, which resulted in a blackout (see 1710190034). They asked FCC Chairman Ajit Pai to bring Univision and Verizon to negotiations to…
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end the dispute. The National Hispanic Media Coalition and others also pressed for a resolution (see 1710200052). “This retransmission dispute is particularly serious in light of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico” after Hurricane Maria, the senators said in a letter to Pai, Univision CEO Randy Falco and Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam. “As the situation in Puerto Rico changes, access to Spanish-language news programming is crucial. We believe the public interest would be best served if carriage is restored by the parties at the earliest possible time so that consumers are no longer caught in the middle.” The other senators signing the letter were Cory Booker, D-N.J.; Ben Cardin, D-Md.; Bob Casey, D-Pa.; Robert Menendez, D-N.J.; and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. Univision shares the senators’ "concern regarding access to Spanish language information and news," a spokesman said. "Univision remains ready to enter into a fair deal that recognizes the value of Spanish-language programming. We hope that Verizon returns to the table to negotiate with us in good faith to bring Univision networks back to Verizon customers." A Verizon spokesman referred us to the company's earlier letter to Pai that said Univision has "consistently insisted on unreasonable terms" (see 1710190034).