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What's Happening With Your Channels

We fight hard and work around the clock to combat the rising costs of TV and bring you the TV you love.

For customers impacted by local channel disputes – we understand it’s frustrating that broadcasters put you in the middle of these negotiations. Use the ZIP Code search below to check on the status of your missing channels.

FOX Regional Sports Networks

Updated 11/25 at 11am MT

The owner of FOX Regional Sports Networks is making unreasonable demands for the continued carriage of their stations.

  • FSN Arizona
  • FSN Cincinnati
  • FSN Detroit
  • FSN Florida
  • FSN Midwest
  • FSN North
  • FSN Ohio
  • FSN Prime Ticket
  • FSN San Diego
  • FSN South
  • FSN Southeast
  • FSN Southwest
  • FSN Sun
  • FSN West
  • Sportstime Ohio

November 25: We don’t have new news to report, but please know we continue to urge FOX RSNs to work with us to come to a logical, long-term deal.

We appreciate your patience throughout this negotiation. We understand it’s frustrating missing the games you love, especially as NHL and NBA seasons begin.

November 11: We love sports fans, but the deal Sinclair has proposed makes no sense for the vast majority of our customers. Sinclair is asking us to pay for a majority of subscribers – in the high double-digit percentages – when fewer than ten percent of our total customers in these markets actually watch the FOX Regional Sports Networks. It’s an outdated model that no longer works for consumers.

We are fighting to keep your TV bill as low as possible. The largest cost for DISH is the amount we pay to programmers who own the content you enjoy watching. To keep our commitment in providing the best value, we are done being bullied into unfair programming deals that do not make sense for our customers. We are no longer going to support this broken business model, and are standing up on behalf of our customers.

Regional Sports relies on the majority of customers to pay costs for channels they may not even watch. Regional Sports should be like a ticket to the ballpark – with fans wanting to watch the game being those who pay for it. It is not fair for you to have to burden the unnecessary additional costs that only pad the profit margins of programmers such as FOX Regional Sports Networks. Right now, costs for TV sports rights in America are the worst deal going and the only winners are the sports broadcasters, like FOX Regional Sports Networks.

They know watching live sports is important to our viewers and they are holding their channels hostage as a negotiation tactic to force TV providers, like DISH, to cave to their demands. Switching is not the answer – as contract negotiations are not unheard of. For too long, FOX Regional Sports Networks has employed this tactic of putting you, the customer, in the middle.

We urge FOX Regional Sports Networks to work with us to reach a logical, long-term agreement for all.

NBC Sports Chicago

Updated 11/25 at 11am MT

NBC Sports Chicago is making unreasonable demands for the continued carriage of their station.

  • Chicago Bulls
  • Chicago Blackhawks
  • Chicago White Sox

November 25: We don’t have new news to report, but please know we continue to urge NBC Sports Chicago to work with us to come to a logical, long-term deal.

We appreciate your patience throughout this negotiation. We understand it’s frustrating missing the games you love, especially as the Blackhawks and Bulls begin their seasons, and will continue to provide you any updates on the negotiation here.

We are disappointed to see NBC Sports Chicago put our customers in the middle of its negotiations by choosing to remove their channel from DISH's lineup. We want to thank you for choosing DISH, and we strive to provide you the best TV experience at the best value. NBC Sports Chicago has chosen to block access to its channel from its own viewers, and are making unreasonable demands. These demands come after NBC Sports Chicago announced it would lose the Cubs in October, as the team moves towards plans to start its own cable television channel with Sinclair Broadcast Group in 2020.

NBC Sports Chicago is also demanding a minimum number of subscribers, reducing their own viewers’ choice. The Regional Sports Networks business model is broken, and now NBC Sports Chicago is looking to recoup the hefty sums they pay the teams they carry after their loss of their most popular content, the Cubs.

We at DISH are sick of these demands that put you, the customer, in the middle. We are fighting on your behalf to have the best content at a fair price. With the highest cost for DISH being the cost of programming, it is important for us to continue to keep that cost fair so that it is not exorbitantly reflected into your bill.

We urge NBC Sports Chicago to work with us to reach a logical, long-term agreement for all.

Make your voice heard

Let NBC Sports Chicago know you want your channel back by contacting them today:

Altitude Sports

Updated 12/5 at 9am MT

Altitude is making unreasonable demands for the continued carriage of their station.

  • Colorado Avalanche
  • Denver Nuggets
  • Colorado Mammoth
  • Colorado Rapids

We love sports, sports fans, and Altitude.

DISH was the first distributor in 2004 to pick up Altitude, and we have been happy to do so ever since. We want to reach a fair agreement that works for all of our customers. Unfortunately, we have not heard from them on a deal since October 21.

As a Regional Sports Network (RSN), Altitude is relying on an outdated and broken business plan. Their plan depends on the majority of customers (more than 90%) paying for the slim minority (less than 10%) who actually watch games.

If you are a sports fan, this is a great deal.
For most consumers, it's not.

Among all of the programmers DISH carries, Altitude is the most expensive per hour watched. In fact, it's one of the most expensive RSNs nationally – more than double the cost of any other independent RSN DISH carries.

The last deal we did with Altitude was five years ago. A lot has changed since then. Viewers have more choices than ever. They deserve a great value.

Unfortunately, Altitude has only wanted to do the same old deal again. Together, we can do better.

Here are 5 creative options that Altitude should consider:

A la carte:

Want Altitude? The fans who want it can pay, others don't.

Streaming:

Altitude says they can't easily stream. We can help. We own Sling TV. We'd be happy to host Altitude on Sling.

Pay by viewing hour:

We've offered to pay Altitude a fair rate for every hour of content watched. The more our customers watch, the more Altitude gets paid.

Tiers:

This comes down to packaging. Allow us offer Altitude in a more expensive package. This helps balance the cost and is fairer to customers.

Simply reduce the rate:

At a fair cost, regional sports can be spread across fans and non-fans. Even for a non-fan, there is value to access.

DISH strives to provide our customers with the best TV experience at the best possible value. We urge Altitude to work with us to reach a logical, long-term agreement on behalf of our mutual viewers. We are hopeful and open to a fair agreement to bring Altitude back as quickly as possible.

Make your voice heard

Let Altitude know you want your channel back by contacting them today:

Looking for your local channels?

(ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC)

Entering your ZIP Code will show local channels that are currently impacted by negotiations.

 
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There are currently no local programming disputes for the ZIP Code entered.

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn how DISH is taking a stand over increased fees… and why switching isn't the answer!

In order to be able to provide you with your programming, we must have agreements in place with channel owners. We work day in and day out to make sure there are standing agreements in place so your service is not interrupted. When contracts come up for expiration, we work for new deals that guarantee you'll have your channels for a long time to come.

However, sometimes these channel owners try to force us into unreasonable contract terms - such as extreme rate increases that we cannot agree to. At DISH, we constantly work to bring you programming at a great value.

We work hard to ensure that we are able to reach agreements, however, if channel owners cannot negotiate reasonably, and a new agreement is not reached, we no longer have the rights to carry this content. It's unfortunate that channel owners choose to block programming important to you. We much prefer for negotiations to be resolved behind the scenes, so you're never directly affected.

We must have agreements with owners of every channel that we provide and every contract expires at varying times. We're happy to say that we have agreements with hundreds of channel owners which allow you to watch your favorite programming uninterrupted.

Unfortunately, there are instances when the programmers use removal of your programming as a negotiation tactic while we work toward a new agreement.

Unfortunately, disputes between pay-TV providers and channel owners are not uncommon within the pay-TV industry. All pay-TV providers face disputes with channel owners. In fact, just last year there were over 200 channel blackouts across the pay-TV industry.

That is why switching your pay-TV provider is not the answer. Switching gives channel owners validation of what they are demanding and encourages them to raise rates. That ultimately drives up the cost for everyone. Sticking with DISH tells channel owners that they need to be reasonable and fair.

Channel Questions or Concerns?

Get in touch with our customer advocates about channel disputes.

What Others Are Saying

Help us stand up for you with your local broadcaster. Please see below for station contact information to make your voice heard.

    Local businesses are impacted as well. Local businesses pay for advertising on your local stations and they are losing viewers. Reach out to local businesses to let them know that you need their help getting this broadcaster to end this dispute.

      Ways to Watch/Maneras de ver la programación

      We've put together a list of ways you can catch your favorite programming elsewhere including other DISH channels, mobile apps or online options. Select a specific show to see what options are available to you.

      Functionality of this feature is only available when channel owners black out access to your local channel.

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      At DISH, we want to hear what you have to say!