Dish and Cox Media, which is owned by Apollo Global Management, have agreed to a second seven-day temporary agreement, ensuring that 18 Cox-managed local stations stay in the satcaster’s lineup for now.
The two companies agreed to a seven-day truce on October 1 when the old carriage pact was set to expire. That set the stage for a new showdown last night, but the stations last night alerted Dish subscribers that the deadline had been moved to October 15.
“ATTENTION DISH CUSTOMERS: After 7PM EST October 15th, you may not be able to watch your favorite shows live,” reads the notice at KIEM-TV, a NBC affiliate in Eureka, California. “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.”
Update: On October 16, KIEM-TV, and other Cox-managed stations, still have their viewer alert notices up, suggesting talks are continuing. The channels have not been blacked out as of 5:42 a.m. ET on October 16.
Update 2: KIEM-TV has posted a new notice saying the new deadline is 7 p.m. ET on October 20.
The 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. (Cox Media, however, continues to serve as the stations’ management team.)
The 18 stations that Dish could lose on October 15 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