WVUE Dish dispute

[Mojo Jojo]

Attention DISH Network Subscribers: - New Orleans News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - FOX 8 Live WVUE-TV Channel 8

What surprises me about this dispute is that Fox 8 (WVUE), the Fox affiliate in New Orleans, always says how it is locally owned and operated, and Tom Benson [owner of the New Orleans Saints] 's Louisiana Media Company is the owner. What is also interesting about this Fox affiliate is that it carries both Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune.

According to Dish:

"Important News - Press Info!

This station is currently blocked by its owner. DISH is dedicated to keeping costs down for our customers. Visit www.FairSatellite.com."

Dish also adds:

"This station is currently blocked by its owner, who is demanding an outrageous rate increase in excess of 300%.

To keep costs down for our customers, DISH is striving to reach a fair deal.

DISH has reached agreements with hundreds of local stations in the past year, so we know our offer is fair and in line with the marketplace.

For more information, please visit
www.FairSatellite.com


"

What is also somewhat funny is that Dish had Fox's Glee on the main site (before it went down...looks like they are working on it).

Maybe Dish can get some with the New Orleans affiliates happy if they make WUPL (My Network TV) available in HD in today's uplink.

[Mojo Jojo]

This station is currently blocked by its owner, who is demanding an outrageous rate increase in excess of 250%.

The SD channel says 300% still.

[dennispap]

Attention DISH Network Subscribers: - New Orleans News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - FOX 8 Live WVUE-TV Channel 8

Maybe Dish can get some with the New Orleans affiliates happy if they make WUPL (My Network TV) available in HD in today's uplink.

Channel 54 in hd would be nice, but getting fox8 back will make the N.O. customers way more happy.

[BrettStah]

It still makes little sense to me that a local station that broadcasts its signal freely is allowed to charge for cable or satellite companies to re-transmit it back to the same market. It's not like Dish is taking the New Orleans FOX signal and sending it to Alaska viewers - it's re-transmitted to people who could just put up an antenna and pick it up for no cost.

[Scott Greczkowski]

I have always said that Satellite HELPS local broadcasters by bringing their signal into homes in their area which not put up an OTA antenna.

[dennispap]

I have always said that Satellite HELPS local broadcasters by bringing their signal into homes in their area which not put up an OTA antenna.

Exactly, it is sort of like if you are in a band, and a radio station that has x amount of guaranteed listeners wants to play your music, and actually pay you some money, while you broadcast your music over the air for free. But you say No, i want more money from you for the stuff i send out over the air for free.
It goes from win-win, to lose-lose

[dare2be]

I have always said that Satellite HELPS local broadcasters by bringing their signal into homes in their area which not put up an OTA antenna.

Along those lines, I have always said that Satellite (or any cable provider, for that matter) HELPS any channel, not just local ones, by bringing their signal to more homes that otherwise couldn't receive them. Channels should be paying the sat/cable companies for the privilege to be transmitted to the most homes, not the other way around.

[Gentleman]

Tom Benson is well known for getting others to pay his bills, as the deal he had with the state to keep the saints in New Orleans, then sold the naming rights to the superdome for which all revenue goes to him for a state owned building.

[Yespage]

Another absurd situation. I really don't understand why we even have "local affiliates", as typically the only local programming is news and sporting events (and the sporting events aren't exactly covered by the local stations, just run through them). So what exactly are these local stations providing that they actually created that warrants additional payment?

[yelraek]

I have always said that Satellite HELPS local broadcasters by bringing their signal into homes in their area which not put up an OTA antenna.

Absolutely! I happen to be one of those unfortunate ones that cannot receive OTA because of a huge mountain between me and the towers.