LIN Television announced a new agreement with Dish Network Corporation for the retransmission of LIN’s broadcast stations in both standard and high-definition. The deal covers television stations owned and/or operated by LIN spanning 17 markets.
In addition, Dish Network and LIN reached a new marketing and promotional agreement to encourage consumers to switch to the satellite provider if LIN’s local station signal is removed from a cable system. The parties will jointly market LIN’s availability on Dish Network so viewers will have the opportunity to continue watching their local news and programming. Other details include an agreement to build awareness of the upcoming digital transition. Dish Network and LIN will work together to educate consumers about the February 17, 2009 switch by providing information about transition requirements and digital-to-analog converter boxes. Dish Network offers a government coupon-eligible digital-to-analog converter box that retails at $39.99 and is essentially free to consumers with the coupon.
"This multi-faceted agreement with Dish Network confirms our desire to deliver high-quality digital programming to all our viewers and to find creative ways to promote the digital transition. It ensures that our viewers will always have an alternative means of accessing the most important channels on television. Our mutually acceptable economic agreement with Dish Network reflects the value of broadcast television on multi-channel television providers," said LIN CEO Vincent Sadusky.
The retransmission agreement includes: KASA-TV and KRQE-TV Albuquerque; KXAN-TV and KNVA-TV Austin; WIVB-TV and WNLO-TV Buffalo; WWHO-TV Columbus; WDTN-TV Dayton; WANE-TV Ft. Wayne; WOOD-TV and WOTV-TV Grand Rapids; WLUK-TV Green Bay; WTNH-TV and WCTX-TV Hartford-New Haven; WISH-TV and WNDY-TV Indianapolis; WLFI-TV Lafayette; WALA-TV and WBPG-TV Mobile; WAVY-TV and WVBT-TV Norfolk; WPRI-TV and WNAC-TV Providence; WWLP-TV Springfield; WTHI-TV Terre Haute and WUPW-TV Toledo.
