A channel dispute between Dish Network and Nexstar Media Group has blacked out 164 local TV stations in 115 markets for across the country for the past week, including WFLA-Ch. 8 in Tampa.
The blackout, Dish said, is the largest “in TV history” and also affects a second Tampa Bay news station.
Dish contracts with broadcast Nexstar-owned local channels across 42 states. The contract expired Dec. 2 after Nexstar asked for “$1 billion in fees for stations that are free over the air,” Dish said in a release.
Nexstar accused Dish of a “long-term practice of putting its paying subscribers in the middle” and depriving viewers of local news “just as the country prepares for an explosion in new coronavirus cases and a new president prepares to take office.”
Five Florida stations are affected by the issue, including Tampa Bay’s WFLA-Ch.8 and WTTA-Ch. 38, as well as WKRG-Ch. 5 in Pensacola, WFNA-Ch. 55 in Pensacola and WMBB-Ch. 13 in Panama City.
In a statement on its website, WFLA blamed Dish for the blackout.
“You might have seen them do this before. They will tell you it’s for your benefit, but don’t believe it,” the station said. “Our offer is fair. And now they hold you the subscriber hostage. It’s not right.”
Nexstar owns 197 stations in 115 markets.
The negotiations, Nexstar said, have been ongoing since July. Dish TV group president Brian Neylon said the $1 billion price tag is a “shocking increase” that is the “largest we have ever seen,” while Nexstar characterized it as “the same fair market rates (Dish) offered to other large distribution partners” this year and last year.
WFLA urged its viewers to call Dish and complain about the blackout and consider switching to another provider, such as DirecTV.
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December 10, 2020 at 01:42AM
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Contract dispute takes WFLA and other Nexstar stations off Dish - Tampa Bay Times
"dish" - Google News
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