Dish Network Renews FCC Complaint Against Sinclair Over ‘Largest Blackout in US TV History’

Dish and Sinclair are still going at it over carriage fees, with the former accusing the latter of “failing to negotiate in good faith as called for by Congress.” The result is what the satellite cable provider is referring to as “the largest blackout in US television history.” On Aug 26, Dish renewed its formal Federal Communications Commission complaint against Sinclair Broadcasting Group, a day after Sinclair blacked Dish subscribers out from 129 of its local channels in 79 markets across 36 states and the District of Columbia.

“We are calling on the FCC to intervene in Sinclair’s senseless blackout that needlessly punishes consumers despite an agreement on rates and all other terms for Sinclair’s local stations,” said Jeff Blum, Dish senior vice president and deputy general counsel. “Sinclair rejected every opportunity to serve viewers including our extension offer, which featured a full true-up, and has instead chosen to use innocent consumers as pawns to gain leverage for a cable channel it hopes to acquire but does not own today.”