In Latest Retrans Beef, Dish Drops Fisher TV Stations
Linda Moss -- Multichannel News, 12/18/2008 2:21:00 AM
In the latest in a growing list of retransmission-consent disputes for Dish Network, the satellite provider Thursday dropped TV stations owned by Fisher Communications in seven Northwest markets, including a Univision affiliate in Seattle.
The markets affected by the dust-up in addition to Seattle are Bakersfield, Calif.; Boise, Idaho; Portland and Eugene, Ore.; Idaho Falls, Idaho; and Yakima, Wash.
In Seattle, for example, Fisher owns ABC affiliate KOMO-TV and Univision affiliate KUNS-TV and in Bakersfield it owns KBAK-TV and KBFX-TV. It was unclear exactly how many stations are involved in the dispute.
In a press release, Dish Networks charged that Fisher “is demanding unreasonable contract terms and an excessive programming rate increase of 82% for continued carriage.” The Fisher’s contract with Dish Network expired Wednesday.
In order to “protect customers from unreasonable rate increases and to ensure they pay only a fair amount every month, Dish Network draws the line at such excess and challenges strong-arm tactics,” the company said.
Dish Network just resolved a similar retransmission-consent dispute with Young Broadcasting, restoring 10 TV stations Sunday after dropping them for three days. And the satellite provider is engaged in a retransmission-consent squabble with Communications Corp. of America that may result in its stations being dropped.
“Fisher Communications’ demands have forced us to remove this channel from our local programming line-up, forcing this disruption to our customers,” Eric Sahl, Dish Network’s senior vice president of programming, said in a prepared statement. “We continue to fight for our subscribers by remaining the leader in value and in order to do this, we need fair contracts and competitive pricing for our customers. This is why we refuse Fisher Communications’ request for increased pricing and unreasonable terms.
“We deeply regret the inconvenience this disruption may cause any of our subscribers,” Sahl said. “Subscribers should rest assured that we continue to take the necessary steps to ensure that Dish Network remains the source for the best quality TV at the best total value.”
In turn, Fisher’s station web sites have posted their arguments defending cash for carriage.
On KOMO’s site, for example, the station said, “Dish charges you a fee to receive KOMO. We believe Dish should be willing to pay a small portion of the fees you pay to Dish for the program content we provide to you. Our request is reasonable given our award-winning news, sport, and entertainment programming. It is considerably less than the amount paid by Dish for less popular satellite program networks.”
KOMO then goes on to list 2006 license fees for several dozen cable networks.
Univision has said that this is the first cycle where it will opt for retransmission-consent, rather than must-carry, for its owned-and-operated stations. Fisher owns Univision affiliate stations in several markets, not only Seattle but Yakima and Portland.
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If the two party's spent as much time negotiating the issues as they do blaming each other it would have been settled last week. My Dish contract is up soon and then it will be with Direct TV.
R Jones - 12/31/2008 6:47:00 PM EST -
I am really disappointed with Dish and Fisher not being able to resolve the ABC issue. I, for one, watch a lot of KATU programs and I am really disappointed that I cannot view that channel anymore. Since my contract with Dish is up now, I may have to change to DirecTV. With all that is going on in this United States and the financial mess we are in, I would think that anyone operating a business would be mindful of losing business.
D. Y. Thomas - 12/30/2008 1:44:00 AM EST -
I'm not sure why anybody would want to pay to watch or to broadcast a Fisher station when their stations are usually sitting in black most of the time.
Steve James - 12/29/2008 8:38:00 PM EST -
If I have to miss the Rose Bowl because of Fisher's greed, I won't care if Dish Network ever comes to agreement with them. I watch mostly sports on TV and ABC doesn't do much with sports (other than overflow from ESPN). I can probably get along fine without KOMO and ABC. So take a hike Fisher!!
Bob Yehl, - 12/26/2008 1:15:00 PM EST -
I have been a DISH customer for several years because of the value I
receive. The CBS affiliate, KVAL, in Eugene, Oregon is affected by DISH's
dispute with Fisher Communications and I will be very upset if I am
unable to see the upcoming College Bowl games scheduled for broadcast
on CBS. I find Fisher's request for an 82% increase in fees from DISH to be
completely out of line. Fisher's stance is indicative of the greed that exists
in many US corporations that has caused the current economic crisis in
the US. If I were and advertiser on any of the Fisher stations involved in
this dispute with DISH, I would seriously consider terminating my
advertising contract.
Joe H. Griggs - 12/23/2008 7:28:00 PM EST
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