US subscribers to satellite provider Dish Network and over-the-top (OTT) IPTV service Sling TV have lost access to 21 Fox regional sports networks (RSNs) after the parties failed to come to a new agreement.
The RSNs, which are in the process of being transferred from Disney to Sinclair Broadcast Group under a US$10.6 billion deal signed in May, were pulled from Dish and Sling on Friday, with both sides issuing competing statements blaming the other for the blackout.
Dish’s deal to carry the RSNs expired on 21st July, but the two sides signed a short-term extension until 26th July. According to SportsBusiness Daily, no progress was made in the interim period.
Fox said on its official website that the RSNs had offered to renew the contract ‘under the current terms of our existing agreement’, but that Dish and Sling turned down that offer.
The Fox statement added: ‘We know fans are looking forward to the broadcasts during the stretch run of baseball season, and we hope Dish and Sling act to return this programming to their customers.’
The fallout affects channels like YES Network, which shows the New York Yankees, and other networks carrying Major League Baseball (MLB) games. National Basketball Association (NBA) and National Hockey League (NHL) matches are also carried by the RSNs.
Dish hit back at Fox’s statement by claiming that the RSNs and YES Network, which is reportedly being sold to a consortium involving the Yankees, Amazon and Sinclair, are ‘demanding unreasonable rates and attempting to make Dish customers pay for their channels, whether they get them or not.’
According to Dish, the RSNs are ‘seeking payment’ from ‘almost all’ Dish customers in their regions, even if they opt out of sports packages.
“The regional sports TV business model is broken,” added Andy LeCuyer, Dish senior vice president of programming, in an official statement. “It relies on the majority of customers subsidising the slim minority who actually watch these channels. RSNs should be like a ticket to the ballpark – fans who want to watch the game should be the ones who pay for it.
“Sports programming is the most expensive content on TV. Networks pay the sports teams huge amounts of money, then try to recoup it from a broad base of consumers. It’s time to change the status quo.”
US subscribers to satellite provider Dish Network and over-the-top (OTT) IPTV service Sling TV have lost access to 21 Fox regional sports networks (RSNs) after the parties failed to come to a new agreement.
The RSNs, which are in the process of being transferred from Disney to Sinclair Broadcast Group under a US$10.6 billion deal signed in May, were pulled from Dish and Sling on Friday, with both sides issuing competing statements blaming the other for the blackout.
Dish’s deal to carry the RSNs expired on 21st July, but the two sides signed a short-term extension until 26th July. According to SportsBusiness Daily, no progress was made in the interim period.
Fox said on its official website that the RSNs had offered to renew the contract ‘under the current terms of our existing agreement’, but that Dish and Sling turned down that offer.
The Fox statement added: ‘We know fans are looking forward to the broadcasts during the stretch run of baseball season, and we hope Dish and Sling act to return this programming to their customers.’
The fallout affects channels like YES Network, which shows the New York Yankees, and other networks carrying Major League Baseball (MLB) games. National Basketball Association (NBA) and National Hockey League (NHL) matches are also carried by the RSNs.
Dish hit back at Fox’s statement by claiming that the RSNs and YES Network, which is reportedly being sold to a consortium involving the Yankees, Amazon and Sinclair, are ‘demanding unreasonable rates and attempting to make Dish customers pay for their channels, whether they get them or not.’
According to Dish, the RSNs are ‘seeking payment’ from ‘almost all’ Dish customers in their regions, even if they opt out of sports packages.
“The regional sports TV business model is broken,” added Andy LeCuyer, Dish senior vice president of programming, in an official statement. “It relies on the majority of customers subsidising the slim minority who actually watch these channels. RSNs should be like a ticket to the ballpark – fans who want to watch the game should be the ones who pay for it.
“Sports programming is the most expensive content on TV. Networks pay the sports teams huge amounts of money, then try to recoup it from a broad base of consumers. It’s time to change the status quo.”
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