Dish, Citadel Reach Agreement in Providence, R.I., Retrans Dispute

Dish Network and Citadel Communications said the reached a multi-year agreement for Dish to carry Citadel’s WLNE-TV, in Providence, R.I., after a series of temporary extensions.

The previous retransmission agreement between the station and the distributor expired on Aug.18. The station has remained available via satellite through a series of short, week-long extensions as negotiations continued.

Related: WLNE Stays on Dish

The companies issued a brief statement announcing the agreement, but did not disclose the terms.

When a blackout was a possibility, Dish handed out digital antennas so that its subscribers would be able to continue to watch the ABC affiliate over-the air.

“The fastest rising cost of almost any pay TV bill is what broadcasters like Citadel charge for local channels, but they are available for free with a digital antenna,” said Dish executive VP of marketing, programming and media sales Warren Schlichting in a statement when the dispute became public. “While other pay TV providers charge ‘Broadcast TV’ fees, Dish is asking, ‘Why pay for channels if you can get them with an antenna for free?’”

Jon Lafayette

Jon has been business editor of Broadcasting+Cable since 2010. He focuses on revenue-generating activities, including advertising and distribution, as well as executive intrigue and merger and acquisition activity. Just about any story is fair game, if a dollar sign can make its way into the article. Before B+C, Jon covered the industry for TVWeek, Cable World, Electronic Media, Advertising Age and The New York Post. A native New Yorker, Jon is hiding in plain sight in the suburbs of Chicago.