Dish Network and CBS reached an agreement Thursday night to end the three-day blackout of 27 of the broadcaster’s owned and operated stations as well as cable networks CBS Sports Network, POP and Smithsonian Channel. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“We are grateful to our customers for their patience this holiday week as months of work has resulted in a deal that delivers CBS for years to come,” Warren Schlichting, Dish executive vice president of marketing, programming and media sales, said in a statement.
The CBS properties went dark to Dish’s 13 million subscribers on Nov. 20 after the two reached an impasse in negotiations. As late as Wednesday, CBS said the companies were “far apart” in negotiations. But apparently they found a common ground as Thanksgiving night drew to a close, announcing their pact at 11:48 p.m. on Nov. 23.
“We are pleased we have reached a deal with Dish, who recognizes the value that the number one Network brings to viewers in these markets,” said CBS Television Networks Distribution president Ray Hopkins in a statement. “Dish customers will continue to get CBS’ must-have content, while we are also able to achieve our short and long-term economic and strategic goals.”
The agreement includes retransmission consent of CBS, and several other local television stations owned by CBS, on Dish in New York (WCBS and WLNY), Los Angeles (KCBS and KCAL), Chicago (WBBM), Philadelphia (KYW and WPSG), Dallas (KTVT and KTXA), San Francisco (KPIX and KBCW), Atlanta (WUPA), Boston (WBZ and WSBK), Seattle (KSTW), Tampa (WTOG), Detroit (WWJ and WKBD), Minneapolis (WCCO), Miami (WFOR and WBFS), Denver (KCNC), Sacramento (KOVR and KMAX), Pittsburgh (KDKA and WPCW) and Baltimore (WJZ).
