DirecTV wins appeal on Nexstar, White Knight suit
DirecTV has won a key legal victory in its antitrust battle against Nexstar Media Group and two of its affiliated broadcasters. A federal appeals court reinstated the company’s lawsuit, allowing it to move forward with claims of price-fixing in retransmission consent fees. The case now returns to a lower court for further proceedings.
The Second Circuit Court of Appeal ruled in favour of DirecTV, confirming its right to sue under antitrust laws. The decision revives a federal lawsuit that had previously been dismissed. The defendants include Nexstar Media Group, along with Mission Broadcasting and White Knight Broadcasting—both described as Nexstar ‘sidecars.’
The lawsuit alleges that these companies worked together to artificially inflate retransmission consent fees. DirecTV claims the coordinated pricing harmed consumers by driving up costs. The case will now resume in the US District Court in Manhattan.
DirecTV intends to push ahead with its argument that the defendants exploited their ‘sidecar’ relationship. The company asserts this arrangement violated both FCC regulations and competition laws. Nexstar’s structure, involving Mission and White Knight, has faced scrutiny for allegedly enabling unfair pricing practices.
The appeals court ruling means DirecTV can continue pursuing its claims in district court. If successful, the lawsuit could impact how retransmission fees are set across the industry. The outcome may also influence broader enforcement of antitrust rules in media and broadcasting.
