In late November, Cox Media Group-owned television stations were suddenly blocked from paying subscribers of the Dish direct broadcast satellite service, as a new retransmission consent accord between the MVPD and the owner of such properties as WSB-2 in Atlanta and WFTV-9 in Orlando would not be signed before the expiry date of the previous arrangement.
Finger pointing from both parties ensued, but one accusation of CMG from Dish was particularly fiery, and involved TEGNA. Was Dish accurate in its version of the retrans impasse? It appears to be the case, as Standard General has confirmed it will not negotiate retransmission agreements for both parties as if they were the same entity.
That’s still not good enough for one pro-cable TV lobby, of which Dish is a member, that wants federal regulators to kill the deal.
