Dish, Tegna Reach New Distribution Agreement

By Joe Flint 

Satellite broadcaster Dish Network Corp. and local television-station owner Tegna Inc. reached a new distribution agreement after a brief blackout.

On Friday night, Tegna (formerly Gannett Co.) pulled the signals of 46 TV stations it owns or operates from Dish Network, leaving millions of subscribers in 38 major markets across 33 states without access to some of their local channels. Tegna is the largest independent owner of NBC and CBS affiliates and owns many ABC affiliates.

The new multiyear agreement came early Sunday afternoon, less than two days after the stations had gone dark.

Such contract disputes have become more common in recent years as broadcast and cable channels seek higher distribution fees from cable and satellite operators in response to their own growing content costs. At the same time, cord-cutting by consumers tired of big pay-TV bills and a lack of choice are spurring distributors to push back on higher costs from programmers.

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 11, 2015 14:32 ET (18:32 GMT)

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