Sinclair threatens to remove local channels from DISH customers
On August 9, 2021, Sinclair Broadcast Group threatened to black out DISH customers' access to 144 local channels across 86 markets unless DISH agrees to a nearly billion-dollar fee increase. This demand comes despite declining viewership and accusations that Sinclair is using its market power to negotiate unfairly. Brian Neylon, DISH TV Group President, criticized Sinclair's tactics as a way to intimidate DISH and upset customers. Neylon expressed DISH's commitment to negotiate fairly and keep TV bills low for its customers.
- DISH is committed to fighting for its customers' interests and keeping TV bills low.
- There is still time to reach a fair agreement with Sinclair.
- Sinclair's demand for a nearly billion-dollar fee increase could lead to higher costs for DISH customers.
- Sinclair's tactics may disrupt DISH's customer relationships by threatening to remove local channels.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Aug. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sinclair Broadcast Group, the country's third largest local channel owner, is threatening to black out DISH customers' access to 144 local channels across 86 markets nationwide. The media conglomerate is trying to use its market power to demand an unreasonable fee increase, using millions of Americans as pawns in its negotiations.
"Sinclair is demanding DISH pay nearly a billion dollars in fees for their television channels — a massive increase from what we pay for these same channels today despite declining viewership," said Brian Neylon, Group President, DISH TV. "Sinclair is making these outrageous demands, turning its back on its public interest obligation and putting customers in the middle of its negotiations."
Over the past couple of years, Sinclair spent billions of dollars to acquire new channels, and now they're demanding a massive increase because they want DISH customers to foot the bill. In addition, Sinclair is also demanding that DISH carry other programming that many customers don't watch.
"Sinclair is threatening to remove its channels from DISH customers if its unreasonable demands are not met," said Neylon. "This negotiating tactic is used to upset our customers and intimidate us into accepting outrageous contract terms — a tactic the channel owner uses frequently."
"There is still time to reach an agreement with Sinclair that is fair for all parties involved, especially our customers," added Neylon. "We will continue to fight on behalf of DISH customers to keep TV bills as low as possible. Despite the fact that Sinclair has walked away from the table multiple times, we stand ready to negotiate in good faith."
DISH customers can visit DISHPromise.com for more information.
About DISH
DISH Network Corporation is a connectivity company. Since 1980, it has served as a disruptive force, driving innovation and value on behalf of consumers. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides television entertainment and award-winning technology to millions of customers with its satellite DISH TV and streaming SLING TV services. In 2020, the company became a nationwide U.S. wireless carrier through the acquisition of Boost Mobile. DISH continues to innovate in wireless, building the nation's first virtualized, O-RAN 5G broadband network. DISH Network Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) is a Fortune 200 company.
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SOURCE DISH Network Corporation
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