A federal court ruling means DISH Network subscribers in Omaha will no longer be able to view Pappas Telecasting-owned KPTM (DISH Network Channel 9143) and KXVO (Channel 9144) after midnight Thursday.The court ruled in August that DISH violated copyright laws by retransmitting network signals. All "distant" network signals must removed from the DISH Network, effective this Friday, Dec. 1.
For more than eight years, Englewood, Colo.-based DISH Network parent company EchoStar Communications has been battling broadcast networks that claimed the satellite provider illegally encroached on their markets. Frequently, EchoStar settled with local stations to maintain its presence in rural markets.
However, in a press release, Pappas Telecasting Companies CEO Harry Pappas said DISH is unwilling to pay a "modest price" to local stations for permission to rebroadcast its programmining.
"It may surprise our DISH viewers to know that while DISH is charging them $5.99 per month just for their free local broadcast stations like the ones owned or operated by our company, DISH is unwilling to pay less than 19 cents out of the $6 per month they charge their customers," Pappas said.
Pappas is encouraging DISH Network subscribers to contact EchoStar Communications and express their displeasure with the situation.
"Our stations' ratings demonstrate that our programming is of high value to our loyal viewers," Pappas said. "We encourage viewers to contact EchoStar in order to make sure that their opinions are heard loud and clear."
At least one million subscribers who currently receive Pappas stations around the country through DISH Network will be affected. Pappas has successfully reached retransmission consent agreements with EchoStar's competitor, DirecTV, and most major cable system operators in its markets.
The stations and markets affected besides Omaha are KAZA/Los Angeles; KTNC/San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose; KAZH/Houston; WCWG/Greensboro-High Point-Winston Salem; KMPH and KFRE/Fresno-Visalia California; KCWI/Des Moines-Ames, Iowa; KDBC/El Paso; KHGI and KTVG/Lincoln & Hastings-Kearney, Nebraska; and KREN/Reno, Nevada.
Affected DISH Network viewers can still watch the stations over the air using an antenna or through a cable or satellite TV provider. In the Los Angeles and Houston markets, viewers can watch Pappas stations via broadband Internet providers (Verizon and AT&T), which offer television services.
4 comments:
Does Dish carry the other Omaha stations? I suspect that Pappas is shooting itself in the foot once again.
Yes, DISH Network carries the following Omaha stations:
KETV, Channel 9140
KMTV, Channel 9141
WOWT, Channel 9142
The Pappas/DISH dispute has nothing to do with the federal injunction. That affected DISTANT network affiliates. KPTM and KXVO are the local affiliates in Omaha.
Pappas Telecasting: We're sorry, but there's a profit to be had.
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