How Many Dish Subs Will Miss the Super Bowl Due to Carriage Disputes?

By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man –Follow on X.
Former editor of 4 TV magazines. Covered the satellite TV industry for 30 years.

TV Answer Man, I saw your article on DIRECTV subscribers not having CBS for the Super Bowl. But what about us Dish customers who don’t have CBS and we haven’t had it for more than a year! — Jim, Dayton, Ohio.

Jim, DIRECTV is missing four CBS affiliates due to carriage disputes with Cox Media Group and Mission Broadcasting: WYOU TV in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania; KOLR-TV in Springfield, Missouri; WHIO-TV in Dayton, Ohio; and KIRO-TV in Seattle, Washington. This would seem to be a problem with CBS broadcasting the Super Bowl tomorrow. However, CBS has decided to simulcast the game on Nickelodeon which will enable DIRECTV’s subscribers in those markets to watch the game, albeit via a kids-oriented broadcast on Nick.

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Dish customers in Seattle and Dayton, Ohio are facing the same problem. They have been without the Cox Media Group stations for more than a year because of a separate fee fight. Like the DIRECTV subs, Dish viewers in the two markets can watch the game on Nick, an antenna or via a subscription to Paramount Plus.

Fortunately, Dish in recent weeks settled a handful of other carriage disputes, including ones with Hearst, Lilly and Mission, so the Cox Media Group blackout is the only one that will cause some issues tomorrow.

Jim, hope that helps. Happy viewing and stay safe!

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The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered the TV technology scene for more than three decades. He will report on the latest news and answer your questions regarding new devices and services that are changing the way you watch television. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.