Latino, Consumer Voices Join TVfreedom.Org

TVfreedom.org announced today that more organizations have joined its coalition: The Hispanic Institute, Entravision Communications Corp., ZGS Communications and the Media Alliance.

TVfreedom.org, is a new coalition of local broadcasters, community advocates, network television affiliate associations, multicast networks, manufacturers and other independent broadcaster-related organizations created in response to efforts by cable and satellite operators that want to restrict broadcasters’ retransmission consent efforts.

The group said in a statement: “Having these four members join the coalition highlights the importance of Latino and culturally diverse communities working together to stand up to rising cable bills, pay-TV blackouts and punitive early termination fees.

“As pay-TV providers expand their efforts to use their own customers as bargaining chips in retransmission negotiations with broadcasters, TVfreedom.org will continue to advocate for policies and initiatives that protect the public interest and preserve the tremendous benefits that broadcasters provide to the local communities they serve.”

Robert C. Kenny, director of public affairs, TVfreedom.org, added: “TVfreedom.org is committed to protecting the interest of consumers who are fed up with rapidly escalating cable bills, pay-TV blackouts and punitive early termination fees that have effectively stopped many unhappy pay-TV consumers from switching to competitors in the immediate aftermath of significant service disruptions. Our broad-based, 27-member coalition is demanding accountability from the pay-TV industry, which is raking in record profits at the expense of TV viewers across America.”