As Dish-Univision Blackout Continues, Access Over Antennas Becomes an Issue

The blackout of Univision content on Dish Network and its Sling over-the-top product continued (see 1807020030) Tuesday, both sides confirmed. And access by the MVPD’s subscribers to the broadcaster’s programming over the air became another point of contention. Dish is continuing to give some subscribers free antennas so they can watch the broadcasts terrestrially, a spokeswoman told us. Qualifying for one “depends on where a customer is located and the signal strength available in that” market, she emailed. “The ball remains in Univision’s court. Univision walked away from the negotiation table June 29 and has not countered DISH’s latest proposal.” The broadcaster’s Galavision and Univision Deportes Network are only on pay TV, noted a Univision spokesman. “Plus, getting TV over the air simply isn’t an ideal option for a significant number of Americans,” he emailed. “DISH’s attempts to devalue Univision by pointing to over the air option as an across-the-board solution is either uninformed or disingenuous. DISH customers who value Univision’s programming have already subscribed to their bundled service and expect it.”