Supreme Court declines Nexstar appeal in DIRECTV antitrust lawsuit

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal from Nexstar Media Group regarding an antitrust lawsuit filed by DIRECTV. This decision leaves in place a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, allowing DIRECTV to proceed with its claims in federal court in New York.

DIRECTV filed the lawsuit in 2023, alleging that Nexstar, Mission Broadcasting, and White Knight Broadcasting colluded to coordinate negotiations for retransmission consent. The satellite provider claims the companies used a common negotiator to improperly share confidential financial information and negotiating positions to demand artificially high fees.

When DIRECTV refused to pay the requested rates, several stations went dark, affecting approximately one million subscribers and leading to thousands of cancellations and lost revenue. Nexstar had argued that DIRECTV lacked legal standing because it did not actually pay the disputed rates, but the Second Circuit previously ruled that the provider could pursue claims based on lost profits.