Did Dish and Nexstar Reach an Agreement

Terms of the new Dish-Nexstar deal were not disclosed. „DISH Network Corporation announced today that it has entered into a new multi-year transportation agreement with Nexstar Media Group. Local channels and WGN America were immediately reinstated to DISH TV. In addition, WGN America will be available on SLING TV in early 2021 as part of an additional add-on package,“ Dish`s statement reads. AT&T and broadcaster Tegna were also unable to reach a new deal on Tuesday, resulting in the loss of more than 60 stations on DirecTV, AT&T U-verse and streaming service AT&T TV. „We are pleased to have reached an agreement that benefits all parties, especially our customers,“ Brian Neylon, president of Dish TV, said in a statement. „Thank you for your patience and understanding throughout the negotiations. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the deal immediately restored Dish Network`s access to 164 local channels in 120 markets in 42 states and the District of Columbia. Over the past three months, Nexstar has successfully concluded more than 250 distribution agreements with its satellite, cable, telecommunications and streaming partners. Combined with similar agreements with other suppliers in 2019, Nexstar now has long-term transparency regarding future redistribution and transport costs, covering 90% of the company`s presence until 2022. IRVING, TX (December 25, 2020) – Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

(Nasdaq: NXST) („Nexstar“) announced today that it has entered into a full multi-year distribution agreement with DISH Network. The agreement restores Nexstar`s 164 local television stations across the country and Nexstar`s wholly-owned cable network, WGN America, to DISH Network`s programming offering. WGN America will also launch on DISH`s streaming service, Sling TV, in early 2021. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Nexstar, which became the first group of stations just 20 years after starting with a single radio station, acquired Tribune Media in 2019 for $4.1 billion. This deal made him the owner of the No. 1 station and also gave him control of WGN America, which reaches more than 75 million homes. Dish and Nexstar announced this morning that they have entered into a new multi-year transportation agreement that will end the nearly month-long power outage of 164 local television stations owned by Nexstar and WGN America on the satellite television service. About Nexstar Media Group, Inc. Nexstar Media Group (NASDAQ: NXST) is a leading diversified media company that leverages localism to deliver new services and value to consumers and advertisers through its traditional, digital and mobile media platforms. The wholly-owned operating subsidiary Nexstar Inc. consists of three divisions: Broadcasting, Digital and Networks.

The Broadcasting Division operates, programs or provides sales and other services for 197 television stations and related digital multicast signals that reach 115 markets, or approximately 39% of all U.S. television households (reflecting the FCC`s UHF discount). The division`s portfolio includes major subsidiaries of NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, MyNetworkTV and The CW. The digital division operates 122 local websites and 316 mobile apps that deliver hyperlocal content and industries to consumers and advertisers, allowing audiences to choose where, when and how to access content, creating new revenue opportunities for the business. The Networks division operates WGN America, a growing national cable network for general entertainment that houses NewsNation, the antenna TV multicast network and WGN Radio in Chicago. Nexstar also holds a 31.3% stake in TV Food Network, a world-class cable asset. For more information, please visit www.nexstar.tv. Nexstar, for its part, issued a statement saying Dish was refusing to enter into a new distribution agreement. A fact denied by Neylon, who went on to say that Dish „offered to renew the current contract and compensate subscribers during the ongoing negotiations – once at 11:53 a.m. .m MST and again at 3:11 p.m. .m. MST – but Nexstar never answered. The agreement means that more than 5 million DISH subscribers will have new access to the highly-rated network and local entertainment, sports and news programs provided by television stations Nexstar and WGN America, which is home to the country`s only prime-time live news program, NewsNation.

Nexstar broadcasters also issued statements saying a new deal had been reached and the blackout had ended. According to a Dish Network press release issued Thursday evening, Dish and Nexstar Media Group have agreed to a new multi-year transportation agreement. Financial terms of the multi-year agreement were not disclosed. The deal will send signals from Nexstar station back to Dish in 120 markets and 42 states for the first time since its darkness on Dec. 2. It will also return WGN America to the satellite provider, and the network will also launch on Dish`s internet package, Sling TV, in early 2021. Nexstar noted in announcing the agreement that it has more than 250 distribution agreements with various partners. With the agreements reached in 2019, the company has planned about 90% of its presence by 2022. The contract between the two companies expired on December 2.

Dish says Nexstar „charges more than $1 billion in fees for stations that are available for free live,“ while Nexstar says the other „offers prices below fair market value.“ The fight over Dish-Nexstar fees came a day after AT&T and Tegna were involved in a promotional dispute that clouded 60 local stations on DIRECTV and three other AT&T-owned TV services. The AT&T Tegna carriage battle was settled on December 20. Call IndyStar reporter Justin L. Mack at 317-444-6138 and follow him on Twitter: @justinlmack. . The promotion dispute began on December 2, when the two companies could not agree on how much Dish would have to pay to transport Nexstar stations. The new offer means Dish subscribers in Nexstar markets will be able to watch their local channels at Christmas. WGN America, known for its prestigious scripted dramas a few years ago, recently turned to the news and opened a prime-time night block called NewsNation in August. . Nexstar`s own channels were first pulled from the TV provider on December 3 as a fee dispute continued. Dish Network customers have fewer channels tonight – for now. Nexstar`s 164 local television stations and cable network, WGN America, have been reintegrated into Satellite Carrier`s programming offering.

Nexstar is the parent company of Fox`s WXIN-59 subsidiary and CBS` WTTV-4 subsidiary in Indianapolis. Indianapolis Dish Network customers woke up on Christmas morning with the gift from Fox59 and CBS4 in the list. .