Dish, Tribune Reach Deal On Carriage And Retransmission Consent; End Blackout

(RTTNews) - Tribune Broadcasting, a subsidiary of Tribune Media Co. (TRCO), and Dish Network LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dish Network Corp. (DISH), said Saturday that they have reached a long-term, comprehensive agreement on carriage and retransmission consent. Terms of the deal, which ends a three-month-long blackout, were not disclosed.

Tribune had blacked out Dish customer access to 42 local channels in 33 markets in early June. At issue is the renewal of a new multi-year carriage agreement between Dish and Tribune. According to Dish, Tribune has asked for significant rate increases in the face of declining overall viewership.

The agreement now restores Dish carriage of Tribune Broadcasting's 42 local television stations in 33 markets, and Tribune's cable network, WGN America. Both WGN America and Tribune's local stations are expected to again be available to Dish customers later today.

In a joint statement, the two companies said, "We want to thank our viewers and customers for their patience and support as we worked through this lengthy process. We're pleased to move forward and again be able to provide the content of Tribune's local stations and WGN America for years to come."