Verizon, Univision Bring Blackout Beefs to Pai

Verizon's failure, without warning, to sign a contract extension with Univision that would have continued carriage while the companies continue negotiations was largely unprecedented in how abruptly the telco ceased talks and how precipitously it rejected the extension, Univision CEO Randy Falco said in a letter this week to Chairman Ajit Pai. The broadcaster was no longer available on Verizon's Fios and mobile platforms as of Monday. Falco said that just before 5 p.m. Monday expiration of the extension the two were operating under, Verizon dropped Univision and affiliated channels and began messaging viewers. Verizon Senior Vice President-Public Policy and Government Affairs Kathleen Grillo, in a letter Thursday to Pai, said Univision "consistently insisted on unreasonable terms," including more than double what the MVPD would pay annually despite declining viewership. She said the broadcaster's latest offer, hours before the expiration of the contract extension, "made it clear that the parties were at an impasse" and another extension wouldn't be productive. Verizon said it has been directing customers to the Univision Now app and expanding carriage of other Spanish-language channels. The FCC didn't comment.