- Cox demands exorbitant price increase for his channels and negotiates for channels he does not yet own
- Cox insists on paying DISH customers who don’t subscribe to locals in his markets
- As broadcaster viewership declines, Cox continues to underinvest in local programming
ENGLEWOOD, Colo., November 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Cox Media Group today forced a blackout of its local stations for DISH TV customers in nine markets. The broadcaster is using customers as bargaining leverage, demanding massive rate increases and holding viewers hostage. DISH has been fighting for years and is proud to be the only TV provider to allow customers to delete their local channels to save money. Despite their public interest obligation, Cox Media wants to force DISH customers to pay for local channels if they choose to receive them for free with an over-the-air antenna. Also, Cox is trying to negotiate for stations he doesn’t yet own.
“Cox’s refusal to negotiate in good faith and subsequently force an outage of its stations for DISH customers is deplorable,” said Brian Neylon, Group Chairman, DISH TV. “Cox is demanding an exorbitant rate increase, negotiating for channels he doesn’t yet own, and insisting on paying customers who don’t subscribe to local broadcasts, even as he continues to underinvest in local programming. Broadcasters like Cox put profits ahead of the public interests they are meant to serve, even when its viewership has been declining for years.”
Over the past two years, Cox’s viewership has declined significantly on DISH TV, indicating that many viewers have turned to other channels for their entertainment and news. With its ratings declining, Cox is trying to recoup its losses by demanding increased rates of nearly 75% from DISH customers.
In the early 2000s, broadcasters like Cox began charging cable and satellite companies to provide the public with “free” local station signals. This new source of revenue for broadcasters totaled a few million dollars in 2006, but has grown to more than $14 billion today. Free local programming has effectively become a multi-billion dollar industry for broadcasters and a tax on American consumers. And now Cox is trying to raise that tax.
“We are deeply disappointed with Cox’s decision to remove its channels from DISH after attempting to impose an unjustifiable fee increase that directly impacts our customers,” Neylon said. “We cannot sit idly by and agree to Cox’s unreasonable demands. We will continue to fight on behalf of our customers to reach a fair deal that benefits everyone.”
Stations concerned
Cox’s action affects viewers at various ABC, FOX, CBS and NBC stations in nine markets. Affected stations include:
- (ABC:WSB) – Atlanta, Georgia
- (FOX: WFXT) – Boston, MA
- (ABC: WSOC) – Charlotte, North Carolina
- (SCS:WHIO) – Dayton, Ohio
- (FOX: KLSR) – Eugene, OR
- (FOX: WFOX) – Jacksonville, Florida
- (ABC: WFTV) – Orlando, Florida
- (NBC: WPXI) – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- (SCS: KIRO) – Seattle, WA
DISH customers can visit DISHPromise.com for more information.
About DISH
DISH Network Corporation is a connectivity company. Since 1980, it has served as a disruptive force, driving innovation and value on behalf of consumers. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides television entertainment and award-winning technology to millions of customers with its DISH TV satellite and SLING TV streaming services. In 2020, the company became a nationwide US mobile carrier through the acquisition of Boost Mobile. DISH continues to innovate in wireless, building the nation’s first O-RAN 5G virtualized broadband network. DISH Network Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) is a Fortune 200 company.
SOURCE DISH Network Corporation
