Dish says Hearst demands ‘unreasonable’ as local channels removed

Dish Network (DISH) stated in a press release: “Despite Dish Network’s efforts to negotiate in good faith, Hearst Television, Inc. has forced a channel blackout on DISH TV removing customers’ access to 37 local channels in 27 markets. Dish has been in discussions with Hearst for months working to reach an agreement to keep its channels on air for customers. Instead, Hearst is demanding tens of millions of dollars in rate increases that would affect customers, while it devalues its product by making programming available elsewhere, even as viewership declines… Hearst’s unreasonable demands for its current channels and programming on DISH, along with declining viewership and sharing its content on other platforms, further demonstrates the disconnect between programming providers and distributors. Other recent examples of programmers using the same anti-consumer tactics are Nexstar with DirecTV and Disney with Charter… Hearst’s action affects viewers of various ABC, NBC, CBS, CW, MNT and IND channels across 27 markets.”