**Comcast Slams Into 2026 Antitrust Trial: TV Ad Rep Viamedia Demands *$300M+* in Damages Over Monopoly Lockout**
Comcast’s decade-long antitrust nightmare just got a jury date: October 5, 2026. Viamedia Inc., the scrappy TV ad rep squeezed out of Chicago, Detroit, and Hartford markets, cleared a massive hurdle as Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman denied Comcast’s summary judgment bid—paving a Chicago federal showdown over alleged Sherman Act monopolization.
The beef? Viamedia claims Comcast weaponized “Interconnects”—co-op hubs funneling spot cable ads to networks like ESPN—to force rivals WOW! and RCN to ditch them for Comcast Spotlight. Result: Monopoly grip on ad rep services, $303M-$387M damages (pre-trebling), plus injunctions for open access.
9-year war flashbacks:
- 2016: Suit launches amid DOJ probe into Comcast’s $5.4B spot ad dominance.
- District court boots claims—7th Circuit revives (2020, 105-page smackdown).
- SCOTUS snubs Comcast (2021); Viamedia drops “duty to deal” but tying claim survives.
- Oct 14, 2025: Judge greenlights Viamedia experts, axes Comcast’s—trial locked.
Power players: Kellogg Hansen + Croke Fairchild for Viamedia; Davis Polk + Jenner & Block shield Comcast.
X buzzes—@lawdotcom post: 185+ views—”Comcast antitrust trial bombshell!” @justjnq: Law.com link flying.
U.S. viewers hammered: Higher ad rates = jacked cable bills amid cord-cutting crash (Netflix/YouTube TV boom). $200B+ Comcast empire eyes trebled hit (~$1B); stock dip 0.4% premarket. Broader war? Echoes Google ad monopoly suits—DOJ/FTC watching.
Viamedia CEO Mark Frappier: “Justice prevails—open markets now.” Comcast: Mum post-ruling.
Comcast antitrust trial 2026, Viamedia damages, TV ad rep monopoly—jury to decide cable’s fate.
By Sam Michael
Follow us for daily Big Tech lawsuits and push notifications on Comcast antitrust updates.
Comcast antitrust trial 2026, Viamedia Comcast lawsuit, Comcast TV ad monopoly, Viamedia $300M damages, Sherman Act Comcast Interconnect, Chicago antitrust trial October 2026, Comcast Spotlight monopolization, cable ad rep antitrust, Viamedia summary judgment win, Judge Sharon Coleman Comcast, Comcast ad sales Chicago Detroit Hartford, DOJ Comcast spot ads, cable interconnect antitrust, Comcast Viamedia jury trial, TV advertising antitrust 2025