Univision Sues Charter Over Post-Merger Rates

Univision said it filed a breach of contract lawsuit against Charter Communications claiming that rather than negotiate a new carriage agreement, Charter is attempting to impose rates and other terms of Univision’s agreement with Time Warner Cable, which was acquired by Charter. In papers filed at the Supreme Court in New York, Univision also claims that in government filings and public statements that Charter would be the continuing business after the merger and that Charter is acting in bad faith by enforcing Time Warner agreements in Charter cable systems.

Univision’s carriage agreement with Charter expired June 30. At the time of the merger in May, Time Warner Cable was larger than Charter and received more favorable terms from programmers such as Univision. Univision says Charter “has outright refused to negotiate a renewal agreement with Univision.”