Dish Still Negotiating With Tribune, Endorses Broadcast Antenna Giveaways

Retransmission consent negotiations between Dish Network and Tribune are continuing, but a blackout remains in place, Dish said in a news release in which it also endorsed programs by Sinclair and NAB to give consumers free over-the-air (OTA) antennas. “The country’s 90 million pay-TV customers, all of whom pay retransmission fees for local broadcast stations, are frustrated by rising costs and channel blackouts,” said Warren Schlichting, Dish executive vice president-marketing. “Sinclair is on the right track for consumers and we’d encourage Tribune to follow its example.” Dish endorsed its traditional opponents on retrans -- Sinclair, NAB, Antennas Direct and TVfreedom.org -- for handing out $1 million worth of free OTA antennas in 60 cities. Dish gave out $7 million worth of antennas since the Tribune blackout began in June, the release said. “Complementing the pay-TV experience, which includes the increasing adoption of streaming services like Sling TV, Sony Vue, Hulu and Netflix, is good business and may drive a solution to the otherwise compounding problem of ever-rising retransmission consent fees for local TV,” said Schlichting. Tribune didn't comment.