Dish Network temporarily avoided the blackout of 70 stations in 48 markets across the country Thursday, after broadcaster Media General granted it an extension while it tries to hammer out a long-term deal.
Media General stations in markets like San Francisco/Oakland (KRON-MyNetworkTV); Colorado Springs (KXRM-Fox); Portland (KOIN-CBS); Nashville, Tenn. (WKRN-ABC); Norfolk, Va. (WAVY-NBC); and Providence, RI (WPRI-CBS) were set to go dark at 7 p.m. on March 31. In a statement on their station websites, Media General said the stations would remain available to Dish through the extension period. Previously, Media General had said it had given Dish six weeks of extensions but couldn’t work out a deal.
“Media General has granted Dish another short term extension and continues to work hard to reach a deal, so our viewers will not lose access to their favorite news, sports, entertainment, and other local programming,” the company said.
