2 Dec 2014 10:45 PM PT
See Related about November 20th deadline
See Related about Extensions
Despite months of CBS attempting to secure carriage deals with DISH, CBS has been left with the impression that DISH does not share the same urgency. “In the last few weeks we have granted two extensions in the hopes that this would give both parties sufficient time to come to resolution,” says a CBS spokesperson. “The second extension, which protected DISH subscribers’ programming over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, was the final one. We would very much like to avoid going dark, thereby joining the more than 120 stations DISH has dropped since 2013 alone. Unless agreements are reached, however, our viewers should be prepared to lose CBS from their DISH systems on Thursday evening at 7:00 PM ET.”
DISH made their own statement, “Only CBS can force a blackout of its channels. DISH is actively working to reach a deal before the contract expires and has successfully negotiated agreements representing hundres of stations in recent months that benefit all parties, including our viewers. There is time for the two parties to reach a mutually beneficial deal.”
CBS’s stance in their statement is clearly that there will be no further extensions. Either a deal is reached or it will plan to go black. While CBS has been continually trying to push the issues forward, they feel that DISH has been dragging their feet when it comes to closing the agreement. Execs have been in contact and discussions are still occurring.
CBS has been warning viewers via spots being aired so it won’t be a surprise if they do have to go dark.
The markets that are affected include: KCAL (L.A.), WCBS (New York), WBZ (Boston), WCCO (Minneapolis), WFOR (Miami), WJZ (Baltimore), WWJ (Detroit), KCNC (Denver), KDKA (Pittsburg), KOVR (Sacramento), KPIX (San Francisco) and KTVT (Dallas).
Currently the issue is centered around DISH’s rights to use CBS’ content, including ability to include CBS content in the new “over the top” service it plans to launch as well as offering out-of-home viewing rights. Likely there are disagreements as well over the Hopper DVR service that DISH offers which allows users to record large segments of primetime shows, thereby copyright infringement issues come into play.
Stay tuned and we hope to have an update tomorrow.