Dish subscribers were unable to access some CBS channels over Thanksgiving due to a blackout by the latter. The two companies had failed to find a middle ground over a carriage agreement which meant that Dish customers couldn’t watch NFL games this Thanksgiving. The blackout seems to have pushed things along as the two have now reached a multi-year deal which covers networks like CBS, CBS Sports Network, Pop, and the Smithsonian channel.
After this new multi-year carriage agreement was confirmed, Dish said that the channels that were previously blacked out are now being restored to its customers.
According to reports, CBS wanted Dish to bundle modestly rated cable networks like CBS Sports Network, Smithsonian, and Pop with the main CBS channel. This was something that Dish didn’t want to do.
CBS also argued that Dish complained about the fees that it was asking for its cable networks while paying “at least one cable network more than double our asking price, for far less than half the ratings.”
“We are pleased we have reached a deal with DISH, who recognizes the value that the number one Network brings to viewers in these markets,” said Ray Hopkins, the president of TV networks distribution at CBS.
Both companies haven’t revealed any details about the new deal. No financial terms have been disclosed as well.
Filed in . Read more about Cbs and Dish. Source: businesswire