DISH Network negotiations

DISH Network negotiations with WINK-TV

Unfortunately, WINK-TV (“WINK”) and DISH Network (“DISH”) have reached an impasse in negotiations for carriage of WINK. Despite granting numerous extensions to DISH, little progress was made in securing a new agreement between WINK and DISH and service was terminated on February 6 at 7:00 p.m.

By law, until an agreement is reached, DISH is unable to carry WINK. WINK cannot provide assurance that service to DISH will be restored.

DISH Network is responsible for most of the television service disruptions in the United States. WINK has successfully negotiated carriage agreements with all other satellite and cable company in Southwest Florida and have offered to settle with DISH on similar terms negotiated with other television providers.

WINK has never been “blacked out” by any television provider except DISH, and has existing long-term agreements with all major carriers, including Comcast, DirecTV, YouTube TV, and Hulu Live.

You may also watch WINK over-the-air for free with an antenna on channel 11. WINK has been under the same family ownership since it signed on the air in 1954. WINK is also the only television station owned by Fort Myers Broadcasting Company and employs 250 Southwest Florida residents.

We sincerely apologize for the problems this has created for DISH customers. We also understand that you are not just unhappy with DISH but are equally unhappy with WINK. This is a dispute between two businesses that are required by law to negotiate in good faith to reach an agreement for the carriage of local stations.

Most of the questions and comments we receive have the following concerns:

Q: “Why is WINK asking DISH for so much money?”

A: WINK is not asking DISH to pay more than what any other television provider pays.

Q: “Is WINK just being greedy?”

A: No, WINK has contractual commitments to CBS and others that we pay monthly for the television shows and sports you enjoy watching. DISH understands this and knows other cable and satellite companies pay monthly fees to help cover these costs.

Q: “Why don’t you two companies sit down and work this out?”

A: This is normally how these contracts are negotiated with all other cable companies and satellite providers. It normally takes a couple of days or, at the most, a week and is completed without you, the viewer, knowing the negotiations have taken place. This is not how DISH negotiates. WINK’s general manager in Fort Myers negotiates and has the power and the authority to work out a fair deal in good faith. DISH communicates via phone and email through an individual with no authority to negotiate fees and terms. That individual takes our requests and concessions to others for their deliberation and decisions. Their answers are then sent back to us with little sense of urgency or concern.

Q: “DISH tells me if they agree to pay WINK more money that it will increase my DISH bill each month.”

A: If DISH is passing you the cost increases, wouldn’t it make sense that they reduce your bill when channel(s) are missing?

Q: “Why did you not keep the programming on while you continued to negotiate with DISH?”

A: We have been negotiating since November and have agreed to numerous extensions without success. The proposals we have made, including fees, are the same or similar as what have been agreed to by all of DISH’s cable and satellite competitors.

DISH Network negotiations with WXCW-TV and WANA-TV

Unfortunately, Sun Broadcasting’s WXCW-TV and WANA-TV (“SUN”) and DISH Network (“DISH”) have reached an impasse in negotiations for carriage of SUN. Despite granting numerous extensions to DISH, little progress was made in securing a new agreement between SUN and DISH and service was terminated on February 10th at 7:00pm.

By law, until an agreement is reached, DISH is unable to carry SUN. SUN cannot provide any assurance that service to DISH will be restored.

DISH Network is responsible for most of the television service disruptions in the United States. SUN has successfully negotiated carriage agreements with all other cable companies in Southwest Florida and have offered to settle with DISH on similar terms negotiated with other television providers.

SUN has existing long-term agreements with major carriers, including Comcast, YouTube TV, and Hulu Live.

You may also watch SUN’s stations over-the-air for free with an antenna. SUN is locally owned and operated. We sincerely apologize for the problems this has created for DISH customers.