The TV stations formerly owned by Brian Brady-led Northwest Broadcasting were among those regularly embroiled in protracted retransmission fee negotiations that led to lengthy “blackouts” of its over-the-air channels on MVPDs unwilling to pay the rates Brady sought.
Today, they are a part of the new Cox Media Group. But, old desires haven’t died.
As such, the former Northwest stations could be yanked from a direct broadcast satellite service provider very soon.
It’s hardly a surprise.
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In a message to Dish subscribers, former Northwest FOX affiliate WICZ-40 in Binghamton, N.Y. shared on its website Sunday that the DBS provider “may be removing” the station and MyNetworkTV sibling WBPN-LP “very soon.” Viewers are asked to call Dish now to tell them not to remove the stations.
A similar message appears on a red banner appearing at the top of the KIEM-3 in Eureka-Arcata, Calif., web site, noting that CBS sibling KVIQ-LP 14 would also be prevented from view by any Dish subscriber in Humboldt or Del Norte Counties of far northwestern California.
As such, it appears that all of the former Northwest stations are struggling to reach a fresh retransmission consent deal with Dish.
This would impact not only WICZ-40 and the station serving California’s Redwood Coast but also the following properties:
- CBS affiliate KSWT-13; Estrella TV, on KSWT-13.2; and NBC affiliate KYMA-11 in Yuma, Ariz.
- KFFX-11 in Yakima, Wash., the market’s FOX affiliate, and simulcast partner KCYU-LD 41 in Tri-Cities, Wash.
- KPVI-6 in Idaho Falls, Idaho, a NBC affiliate
- FOX affiliate KMVU-26 in Medford-Ashland, Ore.
- KAYU-28 in Spokane, the market’s FOX affiliate.
- FOX affiliate WSYT-68 in Syracuse.
The disappearance of these stations only adds to the bitterness seen across 2020 between Cox Media Group and Dish.
In late July, the Cox stations not tied to the former Northwest Broadcasting faded to black on Dish local lineups across the U.S., by law, due to the absence of a new retrans deal.
As is typical in retrans wars, each side blames each other for the impasse. Dish SVP/Programming Andy LeCuyer put the blame squarely on Apollo Global Management for its “blackout” of Cox stations.
The July 22 disappearance of these stations by Dish came after a Federal court on July 22 dissolved a temporary restraining order put into place in January 2020 by Cook County, Ill., Circuit Court. This enjoined Apollo from interfering with Dish’s ability to bring Cox Media Group stations to viewers per its original agreement, pre-Apollo reorganization. That case was transferred to federal court, leading to the July 22 dissolution of the TRO. The ongoing litigation between Dish and Apollo stems from questions over Dish’s carriage agreement for the Cox stations, and whether it was prematurely terminated when Apollo completed its acquisition of a majority stake in the company.
Cox-owned ABC affiliate WFTV-9 in Orlando posted a statement calling out Dish for its refusal “to agree to a fair deal for a new retransmission consent agreement” with Cox.
For viewers of the Northwest stations now owned by Cox Media Group, the likely Dish dump is only the latest MVPD battle to impact viewers. In February 2018, Spectrum customers lost access to the 11 ex-Northwest properties as Charter Communications couldn’t come to a deal in a timely manner.
A DirecTV retrans impasse was seen for Northwest Broadcasting in September 2012.
And, in early 2017 Cable ONE dumped Northwest’s stations due to a retrans fight.
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August 17, 2020 at 07:30PM
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CMG's Dish Dump Poised To Impact Former Northwest Stations - Radio & Television Business Report
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