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Dish Drops Gray TV Stations — Which Means the No. 1 or No. 2 Station in More Than 50 Markets Will Be Off the System

Jan 17, 2017  •  Post A Comment

Dish Network has decided to stop carrying all of the TV stations owned and/or operated by Gray Television as of 7 p.m. ET today, Jan. 17, 2017, according to an announcement Monday from Gray TV.

Dish currently carries 99 separate program streams under its carriage agreement with Gray, which is expiring.

Said Kevin Latek, Gray’s Chief Legal and Development Officer: “We are shocked and disappointed to learn that Dish Network has decided to impose yet another blackout on its customers by taking away our stations, which broadcast some of the most highly rated programming on any broadcast or cable channel in their markets.”

Gray’s announcement notes that the company owns the No. 1 or No. 2-ranked television station in more than 50 markets.

“In many of these markets, Gray’s television stations have higher ratings in certain dayparts than every other broadcast station and cable channel combined,” the Gray announcement notes. “Despite the obvious popularity of Gray’s stations, Dish has refused after many months to even begin negotiating carriage terms that are consistent with those that Dish has provided to other broadcasters and cable channels.”

Gray cautioned that the blackout is unlikely to end soon. Please click here to read the full announcement from Gray TV.

One Comment

  1. “Said Kevin Latek, Gray’s Chief Legal and Development Officer: “We are shocked and disappointed to learn that Dish Network has decided to impose yet another blackout on its customers by taking away our stations, which broadcast some of the most highly rated programming on any broadcast or cable channel in their markets.””

    Yeah right. If what you said were true, you’d allow Dish to continue running your stations while you negotiate for your company’s huge rate increase to Dish. Latek is “fake news!”

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