DISH Asks Tribune to Agree to Binding, Baseball-Style Arbitration & End Blackout for DISH Customers; Touts Success of Free Ov...
June 16 2016 - 9:05AM
Business Wire
- Tribune blocked DISH customers from its
42 local channels, WGN America on Sunday
- DISH proposes binding, baseball-style
arbitration to reach a fair market-based deal and restore channels
for the benefit of innocent consumers
- DISH fulfills tens of thousands of free
OTA antenna requests as part of overwhelmingly successful
program
DISH Network L.L.C. has invited Tribune Broadcasting Company to
enter into binding, baseball-style arbitration modeled on the
successful arbitration procedures from the Comcast/NBCU merger to
determine the fair market value of their channels. As part of the
arbitration process, DISH has asked Tribune to restore its channels
on DISH for the benefit of innocent consumers.
“We want to return these local stations to our customers
immediately, and binding, baseball-style arbitration offers a path
to reach a fair deal and to serve the best interests of our
customers," said Warren Schlichting, DISH executive vice president
of Programming.
Tribune blacked out DISH customer access to 42 local channels in
33 markets early Sunday evening.
DISH continues to distribute tens of thousands of free
over-the-air antennas to customers blacked out by Tribune
Broadcasting. The offer remains active and DISH continues to
fulfill orders.
“Our solution to offer free over-the-air antennas to impacted
consumers has been tremendously successful, and provided consumers
with a meaningful option to fight back against the unreasonable
demands of broadcasters whose primary goal should be to serve the
very consumers that they are using as pawns to gain negotiating
leverage," said Warren Schlichting, DISH executive vice president
of Programming.
At issue is the renewal of a new multi-year carriage agreement
between DISH and Tribune. Tribune has asked for significant rate
increases in the face of declining overall viewership.
In addition to asking for significant price increases for local
channels, Tribune is attempting to “force bundle” an unrelated and
low-performing cable channel, WGN America, with the media
conglomerate’s local broadcast stations.
About DISH
DISH Network Corp. (NASDAQ:DISH), through its subsidiaries,
provides approximately 13.874 million pay-TV subscribers, as of
March 31, 2016, with the highest-quality programming and technology
with the most choices at the best value. DISH offers a high
definition line-up with more than 200 national HD channels, the
most international channels and award-winning HD and DVR
technology. DISH Network Corporation is a Fortune 200 company.
Visit www.dish.com.
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DISH Network Corp.John Hall, 720-514-5351news@dish.com
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