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Tribune Broadcasting Lashes Out at Dish Network

Jun 15, 2016  •  Post A Comment

Tribune Broadcasting had harsh words today for Dish Network as the two companies remain at an impasse in their retransmission dispute. As we reported previously, Tribune Media pulled 42 stations in 33 markets off Dish systems due to the stalled negotiations.

In a press release sent out today, Tribune Media Co. said, “Dish Network has been totally unresponsive in negotiating a new contract between the two companies, even as millions of Dish subscribers across the country go without access to Tribune’s 42 local stations and cable network WGN America.”

Gary Weitman, Senior Vice President of Corporate Relations for Tribune Media, added: “It has been more than 48 hours and we’ve had zero response to it, and as a result of Dish’s unresponsiveness, their subscribers suffer the consequences — missing important local news and entertainment programming as well as one-of-a-kind live sporting events like the NBA Finals and The U.S. Golf tournament. We stand ready to negotiate, but we can’t do so alone.”

Weitman said Tribune has repeatedly offered Dish an extension through the end of August.

“Dish rejected every offer, which demonstrates a total disregard for their customers and our viewers,” he said. “Perhaps that explains why they have lost almost 150,000 subscribers in the last year alone.”

Please click here to read the full press release from Tribune.

tribune broadcasting

8 Comments

  1. please come to some agreement with Dish, I am a dish customer and miss channel 16, ABC, please do whatever is possible, it would make a lot of people happy, thank you for your time

  2. It’s been 5 days and we’ve lost 3 channels especially 2 local news channels KTVI & KPLR. We live 69 miles away from the city and cannot use an antenna. If these are free channels anyway what’s the big deal. Don’t companies make enough money off of us poor or less fortunate customers. I could just cancel everything and buy have an expensive outside antenna and watch everything on Hulu.

  3. Why don’t you CEO’s of Dish and Tribune stop fighting over money and provide us poor subs our channels back. We Subs are the only ones that are being hurt by you and Dish fighting over a few pennies per sub. The sad thing about this is that the people being hurt by your disagreement can’t do anything about solving the problem and getting our channels back. This all boils down to money and being greedy. We subs will pay the price no matter what happens.

  4. I don’t blame dish!! Dish sent tribune a letter out on 6-15-16 to have an arbitration n tribune hasn’t responded to that!! This is going to get FCC n congress involved n take note to what has transpired. It’s time for laws to be changed in favor of we the people!!! Everyone please voice your concerns to Fcc N write a letter to your representatives about the mental anguish the public has been suffering for years not just this incident. You can go to dish promise.com n follow the links to get this accomplished. This is nothing but greed/money n it is time to stand up for what is right!!!!

  5. Thanks to both companies. I’m enjoying not being able to watch the US Open(not). I pay $106 per month for this treatment.

  6. Enough with the BS already. Put CBS back on! Pissed off that I pay over $200 a month and I can’t even look at a local station cause you are fighting with Tribune. Fight on your dime, not mine!

  7. It’s Dish your fighting with this week, next week it will be AT&T, Time Warner, Comcast or any other provider you wish to name. I have to tell you, I’m starting to get used to watching the other channels. I compare it to quitting smoking – YES, I was hooked on WDAF-TV (Kansas City station you pulled), and the first few days without were driving me mad! But you know what, I survived! I know watch the other local channels and I’m doing just fine! Not missing WDAF-TV as much as I thought!

  8. This is a big mistake by both companies. I would watch WGN news every morning. I now watch NBC local news and I am happy with it. I won’t be going back. I will watch the Cubs games with over the air broadcast. WGN lost and will not be getting back a loyal customer. I am not willing to pay anymore then I pay today for service.

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