A Syracuse TV station has been blacked out to local Dish Network customers in a dispute that’s lasted more than two weeks.
Dish removed NewsChannel 9 WSYR-TV, the local ABC affiliate, and 163 other TV stations owned by Nexstar Inc. on Dec. 2 after both sides failed to reach a new distribution agreement. Dish also removed the cable news network, WGN America, bought by Nexstar from Tribune Media Co. in a deal valued at $4.1 billion last year.
Both sides are blaming the other.
“Dish is refusing to reach a new distribution agreement allowing the satellite television behemoth the right to continue airing Nexstar’s highly-rated programming,” WSYR’s website says. “As a result, millions of Americans across the country have lost local news, traffic, weather, sports, and entertainment programming as well as critical, up-to-date news regarding the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Dish TV President Brian Neylon accused Nexstar of demanding a large increase in retransmission fees; cable and satellite TV providers must pay those fees for airing broadcast networks like Fox, ABC, CBS and NBC. According to the Myrtle Beach Sun News, the blackout is affecting more than 5 million Dish customers in 42 states.
“Nexstar is demanding more than $1 billion in fees for its television channels. This shocking increase is the highest we’ve ever seen,” Neylon said last month. “Nexstar is intentionally turning its back on its public interest obligation and instead demanding consumers pay significantly more for the channels they could receive for free over-the-air.”
It’s unclear when the dispute might end. According to the Dallas News, the two sides have been arguing since the summer.
TV blackouts have become a common negotiating tactic in fights over fees. Fox Syracuse was removed from Verizon FiOS in 2017, Charter’s Spectrum in 2018, and DirecTV in 2019 in similar disputes that lasted five weeks, four months and eight months, respectively.
Until a resolution is reached, local Dish customers can’t watch sports games on ABC or major programs, like “Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Goldbergs,” “The Bachelor” (new season premiering Jan. 4) or “Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve.”
Nexstar says Dish subscribers should call the satellite TV company at 800-333-3474 and demand the return of its programming and a credit on their account for content they’ve missed. Dish says customers can get more information at dishpromise.com.
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Syracuse TV station’s blackout continues at Dish Network - syracuse.com
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