DISH & Raycom Reach Retransmission Agreement

ENGLEWOOD/MONTGOMERY: DISH has reached an agreement regarding the continued retransmission of Raycom TV stations in 36 markets, where service has now been restored.

Back in January, Raycom was involved in a retransmission blackout with Cox Cable. It suggested to viewers that they switch to another provider, including DISH. In July, a retransmission dispute with Mediacom led Raycom to ask viewers to switch again. In this recent spat, Raycom addressed DISH customers, telling the viewers to switch again, back to even Cox Cable.

“Since the beginning of the year, Raycom has told its viewers to switch providers no fewer than three times, including twice suggesting DISH as a great choice for consumers, as they play TV providers off of each other using viewers as pawns,” said Dave Shull, DISH’s executive VP and chief commercial officer. “Raycom is the poster child of broadcaster manipulation, exploiting outdated retransmission rules to squeeze money from providers, and therefore viewers.”

“The impact of these tactics on consumers should be the focus of retransmission reform in Washington,” added R. Stanton Dodge, DISH’s executive VP and general counsel. “The outdated carriage rules have resulted in an historic number of blackouts with millions of subscribers impacted. It is time for reform.”

The two were able to reach an agreement over the weekend, the terms of which were not disclosed.

DISH has introduced a plan to congress, backed by Time Warner Cable and other video distributors, that would protect consumers and reduce the number of blackouts.