Kcrg May Be Pulled From Dish Network After Disagreement On Broadcast Negotiations

Some KCRG-TV9 viewers are likely to see a disruption in programming starting Tuesday evening as the ABC affiliate is in yet another dispute with a satellite company, Dish Network. The channel and all other stations owned by Atlanta-based Gray Television, KCRG’s parent company, will go dark if negotiations are not settled by 6 p.m.Gray offered Dish an extension that would have continued beyond the deadline, KCRG said, but Dish didn’t accept.Distributors of broadcast stations such as Dish pay broadcasters for the right to carry the signal, then resell the signals to their subscribers.“It is unfortunate that Dish does not see the same value in our programming as every other operator,” said a statement from Thom Pritz, KCRG’s vice president and general manager.Dish said in a statement that Gray isn’t telling the full story.“Dish has successfully negotiated agreements representing hundreds of stations in recent months that benefit all parties, including our viewers.