Pai 'Disappointed' in Dish/Univision Retrans Fight

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is "disappointed" Dish Network and Univision haven't resolved a retransmission consent fight that has gone on for close to five months (see 1807020030), he wrote Nov. 13 to Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., posted last week. Pai said the FCC is monitoring the clash and it "encourages the parties to reach agreement quickly." Pai responded to Menendez's June 29 letter that encouraged CEOs of Dish and Univision to engage in good-faith negotiations and asked the agency to monitor those negotiations. In a letter dated Nov. 12 to Pai and FTC Chairman Joe Simons, Dish General Counsel Timothy Messner said Univision is demanding "a substantial rate increase" despite the programmer no longer having rights to World Cup matches and "a material decline" in ratings. In Univision's Q3 earnings call earlier this month, CEO Vincent Sadusky said the programmer is planning a marketing campaign that should see Dish continue to shed subscribers, which could benefit other MVPDs with which the programmer has a relationship.