American Television Alliance accuses Deltavision of exorbitant WSYT rate hike

August 1, 2026 · TV Technology

American Television Alliance spokesman Hunter Wilson said Deltavision Media is 'benching nearly 20,000 consumers to demand an unprecedented retrans rate hike.' The fight traces to a Verizon-Deltavision contract, covering WSYT, the Fox affiliate serving Syracuse, N.Y., along with MyNetwork, COZI TV and Dabl, that expired in June. The two sides extended negotiations to July 30, missed that deadline as well, and Verizon pulled the stations from its lineup that day. Verizon says Deltavision is pushing for price increases the company considers unreasonable for subscribers.

Campaigns booked against WSYT lose reach in the Syracuse market until Verizon and Deltavision reach a deal, with MyNetwork, COZI TV and Dabl also dark on the platform. ATVA has used the standoff to renew its push for retransmission consent reform, warning that consumers, including access to local news, are being used as leverage in fee disputes. The group has also opposed easing station ownership caps, arguing bigger broadcast groups would only push carriage costs higher. Buyers running local Syracuse plans should confirm current channel availability with Verizon before finalizing placements tied to Fox programming there.