Broadcast Coalition Blasts New Streamer Group

The recent formation of streamer advocacy group Streamer Innovation Alliance (see 2309260050) “appears to be another act from big tech to claim modernized regulations will harm consumers -- just like they argued before when they led the charge to destroy local newspapers by monopolizing ad dollars,” said a Coalition for Local News spokesperson in a statement. The Coalition for Local News was formed by broadcasters that own top-four network affiliate stations to push for streaming services to be reclassified as MVPDs. “Streamers have rapidly become a dominant player in the video marketplace, and the resources they have devoted to launch [SIA] shows that,” the coalition said. The current media marketplace is “tilted in favor of big tech and the national networks,” and the rules governing streamers should be revisited “so that local news can thrive in the streaming era,” said the coalition. SIA didn’t comment.