As of the time of writing, Dish Network and Nexstar Media Group have not announced a resolution to their ongoing dispute. The disagreement centers around a new contract for Nexstar programming on Dish`s satellite TV service.
The current contract between the two companies expired on December 31, 2020. Since then, Dish has been without access to 164 Nexstar-owned local channels and WGN America, a cable network owned by Nexstar. This has left an estimated 5.4 million Dish subscribers without access to popular programming such as local news, NFL games, and popular shows like Chicago Fire and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
The negotiations between the two companies have been ongoing, with both sides expressing a desire to reach a fair and reasonable agreement. However, they have yet to find common ground and continue to exchange public statements accusing each other of being unreasonable or negotiating in bad faith.
Dish has accused Nexstar of demanding unreasonable rate increases and adding channels that are not relevant to the majority of Dish`s customers. Nexstar, on the other hand, claims that Dish has refused to negotiate in good faith and has been unwilling to pay fair market value for its programming.
The dispute has garnered widespread attention, with politicians and consumer advocacy groups calling on the two companies to reach an agreement for the sake of their subscribers. However, as of the time of writing, it is unclear when or if a resolution will be reached.
What does this mean for Dish subscribers? Unfortunately, it means that they will continue to be without access to Nexstar programming until a new contract is signed. This is a frustrating situation for many viewers who rely on local news and other popular programming.
As for what the future holds, it`s difficult to say. The ball is in the court of Dish and Nexstar, and only they can come to a resolution. However, it`s possible that pressure from consumers and lawmakers may motivate the two companies to find a compromise sooner rather than later.
In the meantime, Dish subscribers affected by the blackout may want to consider alternative ways to access their favorite programming. This could include purchasing an antenna for local channels or subscribing to a streaming service that carries the desired content. Whatever the solution, it`s clear that the current impasse between Dish and Nexstar is an unfortunate situation for all involved.