https://tvanswerman.com/2020/09/01/scripps-blasts-dish-as-dishonest-in-fee-fight/
Scripps in a dispute with Dish Network.
Scripps in a dispute with Dish Network.
Scripps says Dish is not being honest in their carriage dispute, and further alleges the satcaster is not motivated to settle because it’s making a profit from the blackout.
Dish has been without Scripps’ 60 local network affiliates in 42 markets since July 25 when the two companies could not agree on a new carriage pact. The satellite service claims that Scripps is asking for excessive fees to carry its signals, a 250 percent increase over the previous rate.
But in a new statement released yesterday, Scripps says Dish is not agreeing to a new deal because it does not have to pay the broadcaster during the blackout.
”Dish isn’t being honest with its customers,” says the statement, which was posted at Scripps’ web sites. “Scripps has not asked for a 250 percent hike. What is true is that Dish has little motivation to seek a deal: Dish’s profitability improves by several million dollars each month by not distributing Scripps stations all across the country. While this battle grows profits for Dish, its customers – who are locked into Dish’s monthly charges for stations they’re not receiving – miss out on the news, weather and sports programming they rely on.”