Hearst Television is warning its viewers of a possible carriage dispute that could disrupt access to nearly three dozen of its local network-affiliated stations on the satellite television platform Dish Network.
In a statement published this week, Hearst Television said its contractual arrangement with Dish Network was scheduled to end on August 19, after which the satellite provider will lose the legal right to offer its local network-affiliated and independent stations until a new agreement is reached.
The matter impacts local TV viewers in key markets across the country, including Boston, Baltimore, Fort Myers, Albuquerque, Sacramento, Kansas City, Oklahoma City and Pittsburgh, among other places.
“Hearst has a long history of successfully concluding carriage agreements with cable companies and other satellite distributors with no disruption of service to subscribers,” a spokesperson for Hearst said in a statement. “Hearst has a long history of successfully concluding carriage agreements with cable companies and other satellite distributors with no disruption of service to subscribers.”
The matter is particularly crucial for viewers in some markets where the local CBS affiliation moved from a Nexstar-owned or operated station to one owned by Hearst earlier this month. That includes Albuquerque, where KOAT (Channel 7) is now airing ABC and CBS programming after KRQE (Channel 13) dropped its CBS affiliation.
The following Hearst-owned channels could be dropped by Dish if the companies don’t reach an agreement by 7 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday:
- KCCI (Channel 8, CBS) in Des Moines, Iowa
- KCRA (Channel 3, NBC) in Sacramento, California
- KCWE (Channel 29, CW) in Kansas City, Missouri
- KETV (Channel 7, ABC) in Omaha, Nebraska
- KHBS (Channel 40, ABC) in Fort Smith, Arkansas
- KHOG (Channel 29, ABC) in Fayetteville, Arkansas
- KMBC (Channel 9, ABC) in Kansas City, Missouri
- KOAT (Channel 7, ABC & CBS) in Albuquerque, New Mexico
- KOCO (Channel 5, ABC) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- KQCA (Channel 58, CW) in Sacramento, California
- KSBW (Channel 8, NBC) in Salinas-Monterey, California
- WAPT (Channel 16, ABC) in Jackson, Mississippi
- WBAL (Channel 11, NBC) in Baltimore, Maryland
- WBBH (Channel 20, NBC) in Fort Myers, Florida
- WCVB (Channel 5, ABC) in Boston, Massachusetts
- WCWG (Channel 20, CW) in Lexington, North Carolina
- WDSU (Channel 6, NBC) in New Orleans, Louisiana
- WESH (Channel 2, NBC) in Daytona Beach, Florida
- WGAL (Channel 8, NBC) in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- WISN (Channel 12, ABC) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- WJCL (Channel 22, ABC) in Savannah, Georgia
- WKCF (Channel 18, CW) in Orlando, Florida
- WLKY (Channel 32, CBS) in Louisville, Kentucky
- WLWT (Channel 5, NBC) in Cincinnati, Ohio
- WMOR (Channel 32) in Tampa Bay, Florida
- WMTW (Channel 8, ABC) in Portland, Maine
- WMUR (Channel 9, ABC) in Manchester, New Hampshire
- WNNE (Channel 31, The CW) in Burlington, Vermont
- WPBF (Channel 25, ABC) in West Palm Beach, Florida
- WPTZ (Channel 5, NBC) in Plattsburgh, New York
- WPXT (Channel 51, CW) in Portland, Maine
- WTAE (Channel 4, ABC) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- WVTM (Channel 13, NBC) in Birmingham, Alabama
- WXII (Channel 12, NBC) in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- WYFF (Channel 4, NBC) in Greenville, South Carolina
Carriage disputes usually involve broadcasters demanding more money from pay TV providers for the legal right to offer their channels on subscription platforms. This situation is no different, with Dish Network accusing Hearst of demanding a significant increase in fees, tens of millions of dollars more, for the same channels you receive today,” according to a note sent to its subscribers on Wednesday and viewed by The Desk.
“We believe these proposed increases are too high and could ultimately lead to higher bills for customers,” Dish Network said. “That’s why we’re working hard to reach a fair agreement that keeps your service affordable while minimizing the risk of channel disruptions. Discussions are ongoing, and we remain committed to protecting both your viewing experience and your wallet.”
If Hearst-owned channels are pulled from Dish Network, most viewers will still be able to receive the missing stations by using a conventional over-the-air antenna plugged into the back of their TV sets.
In rural areas where TV signals are hard to come by but broadband Internet access is available, Hearst-owned channels are also offered on streaming platforms like DIRECTV, Fubo, Hulu with Live TV and YouTube TV.
