Sinclair Broadcast Group CEO Calls for Antitrust Investigation Amid YouTube TV Blackout

Sinclair Broadcast Group CEO Chris Ripley announced today that the company has engaged with regulators regarding ongoing disputes with Disney/ABC over content distribution, specifically in relation to the current blackout of ABC programming for approximately 10 million YouTube TV subscribers.

During a Wednesday conference call discussing the company’s summer earnings, Ripley expressed frustration that local broadcasters have “no say in whether our content…will be distributed to local viewers.” He argued this situation contradicts the original intent of the 1934 Communications Act, which established the Federal Communications Commission. Ripley further suggested the disputes represent an “antitrust issue,” and stated he has spoken with both the Securities and Exchange Commission and antitrust regulators.

The core of the disagreement centers around carriage fees and the impact of network-imposed blackouts on local journalism and access to news and sports programming. Ripley believes local ABC affiliates should be able to continue broadcasting to YouTube TV subscribers, even during disputes between Disney and the streaming service, and suggested Disney should not be able to dictate distribution to platforms like YouTube TV, Hulu, or Fubo. These disputes are increasingly common, with YouTube TV recently resolving a similar issue with NBCUniversal.

Ripley noted that the FCC has “opened an investigation into hurtful network affiliation practices,” and emphasized his concern that consumers are being “forced to buy more streaming services from one of the parties in the dispute to get the content that they literally already paid for.” He did not address a separate suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! that his company helped facilitate earlier this year.

Officials stated they will continue to monitor the situation and assess potential regulatory actions.