WINTER 2026 5 REACH VOICE YOUR CONCERNS TO DECISION-MAKERS Since 2009, retransmission consent fees charged to Consolidated by local networks have changed by over 3,426 percent! Consolidated feels that you have been paying TOO MUCH for these channels, which are available for free over the airwaves. What can you do? Contact North Dakota’s local Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak and the local network affiliates to let them know these price increases are unfair. Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak Washington Office: 1607 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515 202-225-2611 Bismarck Office: 220 East Rosser Ave Federal Bldg. Room #228 Bismarck, ND 58501 701-354-6700 KXMA (CBS, CW) Tammy Blumhagen 1811 N 15th Street Bismarck, ND 58501 701-223-9197 KQCD (NBC, FOX, MeTV) Barry Schumaier 200 N 4th Street Bismarck, ND 58501 701-255-5757 KBMY (ABC, Xtra, Justice) Joshua Rohrer 701-241-5338 Cable and satellite TV providers already pay more than a quarter billion dollars in royalty fees each year for the programming content carried by these broadcast stations. Retrans fees are charged in addition to these payments, meaning that Pay TV subscribers are essentially being charged twice to watch the same content. Broadcast networks hold all the cards and win every time. Retrans fees are soaring and are the fastest rising part of the monthly Pay TV bill. The fact there are so many choices for Pay TV (and the same old video rules) enables broadcasters to play Pay TV companies off of one another and jack up the rates. When broadcasters can unilaterally blackout their programming and harm consumers with impunity, they are guaranteed to win. Pay TV companies want to give their customers the programming they love, but in order to do so, they have to either pay the exorbitant amounts networks demand or put their customers at risk of a blackout. The Broken Retrans System Is a Lose-Lose Situation for Consumers Broadcasters abuse retrans rules and blackout programming for consumers until they get what they want. Pay TV subscribers are caught in the middle—they either experience the disappointment of missed programing during TV blackouts, or they see higher bills when TV distributors give in to broadcaster’s demands. Either way, broadcasters are giving consumers the shaft. On January 1, 2026, Consolidated must implement the following TV price changes due to retrans fee increases: • Essential Package: No increase • Elite Package: Increasing $3.00/mo. • Premier Package: Increasing $3.00/mo. • Premium channels (HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, and STARZ): No change • Local Network Retransmission: Increasing from $36.64 to $40.70/mo. Covers the cost of providing ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX. Thanks for Choosing Consolidated, Your Local TV Provider With so many TV options these days, why choose Consolidated? It’s simple. We are your one-stop shop for communication services in your community. We offer a wider variety of services and extended discounted rates when you choose multiple services. We are your friends and your neighbors, and sometimes even your family! As a member of your community, we care about the quality of the service we bring to you, and we appreciate you and your business.
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