CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Dish Network subscribers no longer have access to WEWS Channel 5.
The local ABC affiliate is one of 60 local stations in 42 markets that went dark over the weekend in a carriage dispute between the satellite service and the stations’ owner, The E.W. Scripps Co.
These types of blackouts have become increasingly common: programmers are looking to increase revenue, while distributors, facing more competition for subscribers than ever before, want to keep rates down. Disputes often last a few days to a week before they’re resolved. But on occasion, blackouts have stretched into weeks or even months.
In typical fashion, both sides have released statements blaming the other for the impasse.
“DISH’s refusal to negotiate to a fair agreement is preventing its customers from accessing pressing news during a global pandemic, a period of social unrest, an active political year and severe weather season for many parts of our country,” Brian Lawlor, president of Local Media for Scripps, said in a press release. “Our impasse, after five months of discussions, is not about the rates DISH pays us but their inability to agree on other distribution terms. We hope DISH will recognize the importance of our programming to its customers and our viewers and help us to resolve this dispute.”
Dish shot back by saying it offered Scripps “multiple extension options” to keep the stations on the service, but the company refused.
“After months of refusing to negotiate, Scripps Media Inc. made a take-it-or-leave-it offer just minutes before expiration. In an effort to minimize the impact to consumers, DISH continues to be open to negotiating with Scripps to come to a fair deal,” Andy LeCuyer, DISH senior vice president of programming, said in a statement. “While the nation faces the impact of the COVID-19 crisis and Hurricane Hanna makes landfall, viewers need access to their local news and programming. On behalf of customers, we ask Scripps to stop punishing its own viewers so we can focus on reaching a fair deal.”
In the meantime, viewers can access WEWS programming by using an antenna with their TV. News 5 content is also available on the station’s mobile app.
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July 27, 2020 at 07:09PM
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Dish subscribers lose access to WEWS Channel 5 - cleveland.com
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