GolTV, Citadel Stations Remain Off Dish

Contract Dispute Keeps Channels Off DBS Lineup

By Linda Moss -- Multichannel News, 8/8/2008 9:04:00 AM

GolTV and four Citadel Communications TV stations Friday remained off Dish Network’s lineup, a week after they were dropped by the satellite provider in separate contract disputes.

GolTV was taken off Dish Network’s roster Aug. 1 after its carriage agreement with the satellite provider expired and the two sides couldn’t come to terms.

Also on Aug. 1, Dish Network said that Citadel “forced” it to remove WHBF, a CBS affiliate in Davenport, Iowa; WOI, an ABC affiliate in Des Moines, Iowa; KLKN, an ABC affiliate in Lincoln, Neb.; and KCAU, an ABC affiliate in Sioux City, Iowa, from its roster.

Dish Network’s retransmission-consent agreement with Citadel expired July 31, and both sides have so far been unsuccessful striking a new pact.

The satellite provider claims that the soccer-centric cable network and the TV stations are both seeking unreasonable price increases for their services, a charge that both GolTV and Citadel deny.

GolTV has asked its disconnected Dish subscribers to take action by e-mailing the network at info@goltv.com. So far, the network has received more than 1,000 e-mails, according to a company spokeswoman.

DirecTV dealers have been running print ads targeting disgruntled Dish subscribers in some of the affected Citadel markets, according to a DirecTV spokesman. Those ads have run in Des Moines, Iowa; Lincoln, Neb.; and Quad Cities-Rock Island, Ill.

WOI in Des Moines has been updating its viewers on its dispute with Dish Network via its web site. The station has posted a list of “frequently asked questions” about the fracas, where it says it is continuing “to have a dialogue with Dish” to reach a new agreement.