NFL/DISH

Source: www.cablefax.com --- Monday, June 20, 2016
NFL Network and NFL RedZone went dark on DISH Thurs night, which the net said was the 1st time in its 13-year history that a distributor has not continued to offer the net. “NFL Network is committed to serving the millions of NFL fans by reaching fair distribution agreements with the pay-TV industry,” the net said in a statement. The dispute seems to be rate-related. “Our contract with NFL Network has expired. We remain open to a fair offer that allows us to carry this content at an appropriate value to our customers,” a DISH spokesman said. While NFL Net may not have been dropped by an affiliate before, it’s had its share of tough negotiations over the years. Most notably was Comcast’s decision to move it to a $5/month sports tier. It resulted in a FCC programming complaint that was dismissed after the two reached a new deal in 2009 that’s thought to last about 10 years. This isn’t DISH’s only battle, as 42 Tribune broadcast channels and cable net WGN America remain dark on its lineup. Firing back at the broadcaster, which accused DISH of rejecting a proposal that would end the blackout, DISH asked Tribune to allow a 3rd party arbitrator to review DISH’s agreements with other station groups and rates that Tribune receives from other pay-TV providers. DISH suggested that the arbitration be modeled on the procedures in the Comcast/NBCU consent decree to ensure that Tribune or DISH couldn’t walk away from the decision of the arbitr ...

from NFL http://ift.tt/28Lr82f