Update: Two Fresno TV stations off for DISH customers due to dispute. How long might it last?

DISH Network customers are without access to Fresno’s NBC and CBS affiliates this week, as the stations’ parent company works for a new distribution agreement.

Nexstar Media Group, Inc. announced last week that subscribers in 115 markets, including Fresno,were at risk of losing network and local programming because the company has yet to come to an agreement with satellite TV provider DISH. Similar warnings were running in red banner ads on the websites for both KSEE24 and CBS47.

The agreement expired Wednesday and DISH pulled the programming from its 5.4 million subscribers.

Nexstar said it had been “negotiating tirelessly and in good faith” since July, offering DISH the same rates it offered other large distribution partners and that DISH has proposed rates that go “significantly backwards.”

“DISH has a long history of holding its subscribers hostage during negotiations with content providers,” Nextsar wrote. In 2020, DISH dropped programming from The E.W. Scripps Company, Apollo, Mission Broadcasting and the NFL Network, according to the statement.

Nexstar said the blackout means viewers will lose access to local news, “just as the country prepares for an explosion in new coronavirus cases and a new President prepares to take office.” DISH subscribers are also losing NFL and college football games scheduled for this weekend.

The company is asking viewers to ask DISH for refunds for the loss..

For its part, DISH has thrown the blame back at Nexstar, painting the company as a corporate giant that is using its power as “the largest and most powerful station owner in the country,” to demand fees that amount to $1 billion, a rate increase DISH calls “unreasonable.”

“Since becoming the nation’s largest local station owner, Nexstar has increased its annual revenue by $1 billion a year. Now, it has set its sights on DISH customers as their next big payday,” said Brian Neylon, group president, DISH TV.

In a statement on Wednesday, DISH said it offered to extend the contract while negotiations continue, but Nexstar never replied.

“We don’t understand why Nexstar insists on prioritizing greed above American viewers, many of whom rely on local programming for their news and entertainment, especially during this global pandemic,” said Neylon, wrote.

Station owners, TV providers clash

These kind of threats (and even eventual blackouts) aren’t new.

AT&T, which owns the TV providers DirecTV and U-verse, went through a series of similar negotiations with several station owners last year, including Sinclair Broadcasting Group (which in Fresno owns KMPH Fox 26 and KFRE), Walt Disney Co. (which owns ABC30 and ESPN stations) and Nexstar.

That latter dispute saw KSEE24 and CBS47 blacked out for two months and was resolved after drawing criticism and public outcry from legislators in eight states.

This story was originally published November 30, 2020 at 8:47 AM.