DirecTV, a leading American satellite and cable provider, has removed Nexstar Media Group‘s network and local community programming from its systems due to a failure to reach a new distribution agreement. 

Nexstar, the largest owner of local TV stations in the United States, offered to extend the current agreement until October 31, but DirecTV rejected the proposal.

According to a DirecTV statement Nexstar demanded a significant increase in viewer fees, more than double the current rate for the same content. This led to DirecTV losing the rights to offer Nexstar’s network partners, including ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and CW stations, in select markets, as well as the cable news service NewsNation.

The dispute between the two companies revolves around Nexstar’s alleged manipulation of ownership regulations, surpassing the national ownership cap of 39% and claiming a reach of 68% across all U.S. TV households, Reuters reported.

DirecTV accused Nexstar of violating antitrust laws and driving up retransmission fees for stations broadcasting major networks. In March, DirecTV filed a lawsuit against Nexstar seeking an order to block alleged collusion in fee negotiations with Mission Broadcasting Inc and White Knight Broadcasting Inc.

Both companies have expressed hope for a quick resolution and are currently engaged in discussions to restore Nexstar programming to DirecTV. Viewers affected by this dispute may experience a temporary disruption in their access to certain channels.