Three months after Fox 31 in Denver and other 41 other Tribune Broadcasting channels nationwide went dark for Dish Network customers, the two companies announced Saturday that they’re back together again.
Details for the new contract were not shared but in a statement, the companies said it was a long-term, comprehensive agreement.
Douglas County-based Dish and Chicago-based Tribune released a joint statement: “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.”
The 12-week dispute, which to agree on new terms, had the usual public acrimony with both sides blaming the other in front of consumers. In Denver, Dish lost KWGN-Channel 2, KDVR-Channel 31 and the WGN cable network.
Dish responded to the blackout by sending out TV antennas so customers could get the local channels over the air for free. Charlie Ergen, Dish’s CEO, had said the and alluded to Tribune’s declining viewership.
Tribune had called Dish’s tactics a “campaign of delay and distraction” and “typical for Dish Network,” according to a June 21 statement by Tribune spokesman Gary Weitman. “Dish constantly puts itself before the needs of its subscribers and our local viewers.”
