Dish, ComCorp Engaged in Retrans Dispute

Station Group Warns Satellite Provider May Stop Carrying Its Signals

By Linda Moss -- Multichannel News, 12/16/2008 10:51:00 AM

After settling one retransmission-consent dispute, Dish Network is in another flap with a broadcaster over the issue of cash-for-carriage.

Stations owned by Communications Corp. of America are warning their viewers that Dish Network may stop carrying their signals. It’s unclear exactly how many stations are involved, but WGMB-TV in Baton Rouge, La., KADN-TV in Lafayette, La., KMSS-TV in Shreveport, La., KPEJ-TV in Odessa, Texas, KVEO-TV in Brownsville, Texas, KETK-TV in Jacksonsville-Tyler, Texas, and KTSM-TV in El Paso, Texas, have all posted warnings on their Web sites that Dish may drop them.

For example, WGMB said, “Dish Network has refused to consider our offer, which is similar in terms granted to other local stations. Keep in mind you currently pay Dish Network nearly $6 per month for local stations. We offered WGMB to Dish Network for close to a penny a day. If Dish Network fails to reach an agreement with our station, you could lose access to the station’s programming as part of the package you are paying Dish Network to provide.”

The site goes on to say, “Our station is requesting less than two cents per day from the $6 you already pay Dish Network. If they drop WGMB, you should request a refund from Dish Network, or consider cancelling Dish and subscribe to an alternative provider.”

The satellite provider just resolved a retransmission-consent dispute with another TV-station owner, Young Broadcasting. Dish Network dropped 10 Young stations last Thursday, but restored them on Sunday after both sides came to terms on a new retransmission-consent contract.

Dish Network officials couldn’t be reached for comment Tuesday. And ComCorp CEO Steve Pruett and the company’s retransmission-consent consultant, Duane Lammers, couldn’t be reached for comment.

Talkback

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• 
  

  Broadcast tv stations are paid by advertisers. If the content and services they provide the local market is valuable, the advertisers will be there to pay everything those stations need to operate and more.
  
  Meanwhile, no advertisers are paying Dish Network for the rebroadcast of those channels but they do pay the tv stations MORE because they know that MANY MORE viewers see that content BECAUSE of Dish Network.
  
  Dish has to pay for the entire process of getting the signal to equipment that can send the signal to their system which then incorporates that into their satellite network.
  
  At a penny per day per subscriber per channel, these stations are raking in FREE CASH and then want to throw a fit that Dish won't pay. This amounts to robbery pure and simple and the station owners know that. They know most viewers have no idea that after paying for the entire process of getting those channels rebroadcast to you, Dish is barely breaking even to provide fringe market viewers with local stations.
  
  Comcorp viewers, Dish will drop your stations but only for a little while until your local robber barrons feel the heat from their advertisers and you. When those channels go dark after the station owners lie about who has to pay and who is getting more from the costs, stick with Dish and call your local stations and tell them to quit ripping you off accept the same terms ALL OTHER STATIONS accept.
  
  And remember, that's free money your stations are getting. Be sure to write/call/email and tell them to upgrade their equipment and service they provide you with that money instead of banking it and giving their CEO a fat raise. They are counting on you being ignorant. Prove you aren't.

  
  

  
  JohnF - 12/17/2008 11:03:00 AM EST
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