Dish and Cox Media, which is owned by Apollo Global Management, have avoided a blackout of 18 local stations for at least a week.
The stations, which are operated by Cox Media, earlier this week posted notices at their web sites saying Dish subscribers could lose their signals at 7 p.m. ET on October 1. But a new notice posted late last night says the deadline for a new carriage agreement has been moved one week.
“ATTENTION DISH CUSTOMERS: After 7PM EST October 8th, you may not be able to watch your favorite shows live,” states one notice at KIEM-TV, a NBC affiliate. “NBC 3 and Redwood CBS are committed to continue our negotiations with DISH to keep your shows on, but DON’T WAIT: Call DISH at 800-333-3474 and tell them you want NBC 3 and Redwood CBS to remain on the air.”
The TV Answer Man has asked Dish for a comment on the carriage battle, but has yet to get a response. On Dish’s Twitter customer service page, the company has told complaining subscribers that it’s still trying to work out a new deal.
This dispute should not be confused with a different carriage battle between Dish and Cox Media and Apollo Global Management. Two months ago, Dish lost 14 local network affiliates owned by Apollo, and managed by Cox, over fees. This new dispute covers the 18 stations previously owned by Northwest Broadcasting, which were sold to Apollo last year.
Their contracts are expiring now because Dish has been operating on the agreement it previously held with Northwest. The 14 stations it lost two months ago were operating on a contract Dish had negotiated with Cox Media before it was so sold to Apollo.
Dish first lost the 18 Cox/Apollo stations in January, but the two sides agreed to a temporary truce in March due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
The 18 stations that Dish could now lose next week are:
Alexandria, La.
ABC
KLAX
31
Binghamton, N.Y.
MNT
WBPN
8
FOX
WICZ
40
Eureka, Calif.
NBC
KIEM
3
CBS
KVIQ
17
Greenwood-Greenville, Miss.
ABC
WABG
6
FOX
WABGD
10
NBC
WNBD
33
CBS
WXVT
15
Idaho Falls-Pocatello, Idaho
NBC
KPVI
6
Medford-Klamath Falls, Oreg.
FOX
KMVU
26
MNT
KFBI
48
Spokane, Wash.
FOX
KAYU
28
Syracuse, N.Y.
FOX
WSYT
68
MNT
WNYS
43
Yakima-Pasco-Richland-Kennewick, Wash.
FOX
KCYU
41
Yuma, Ariz. – El Centro, Calif.
CBS
KSWT
13
NBC
KYMA
11
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— Phillip Swann