TV Trouble for Millions of Viewers as Dish, Tegna Hit Stalemate
October 10 2015 - 1:20AM
Dow Jones News
By Joe Flint
A contract dispute between satellite broadcaster Dish Network
Corp. and TV-station operator Tegna Inc. has left millions of
subscribers across the U.S. without programming from the major
broadcast networks.
The two sides have been unable to come to terms on a new deal
that would allow Dish to continue to carry 46 television stations
owned or managed by Tegna, in 38 markets across 33 states and the
District of Columbia.
Such blackouts are becoming commonplace as local broadcasters
and broadcast networks seek higher distribution fees from pay-TV
operators. Conversely, feeling the pinch from subscribers cutting
the cord in favor of streaming services, cable and satellite
operators are pushing back against price increases from
programmers.
In the current dispute, both sides issued statements blaming the
other for the stalemate. Dish said it offered to extend the current
agreement while negotiations continued. Tegna, which was formerly
Gannett Co., said Dish is a "serial dropper" of channels and isn't
interested in reaching a fair deal, as other pay-TV distributors
have with the broadcaster.
Tegna is the largest independent owner of NBC and CBS affiliates
in the country, which means if an agreement or temporary accord
isn't reached by Sunday, many Dish subscribers will be without
coverage of the National Football League. Tegna is also the
fourth-largest owner of ABC affiliates.
Dish's general counsel, R. Stanton Dodge, said Tegna's decision
to pull its stations is "a prime example of why Washington needs to
stand up for consumers and end local channel blackouts."
Tegna countered in its statement that Dish is "preventing its
customers from accessing valued channels, even as customers
continue to pay for that content."
Write to Joe Flint at joe.flint@wsj.com
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
October 10, 2015 01:05 ET (05:05 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2015 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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