This is a take I see too often around here - "Charlie never loses". I'm not saying I know otherwise - we are all speculating. It strikes me that maximum leverage for Tribune would come a few weeks into the NFL season, not now. From that viewpoint, doesn't it follow that Tribune would only come to terms now if they got what they wanted?
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I think you haven't been around long enough then!
I would characterize most of us felt DISH may have blinked *more* in some past cable channel disputes particularly in a couple of the bigger ones. I am sticking to my post here that it is hard to tell in this one, but history and timing that I see says the opposite of you, a few weeks into the season hundreds of thousands of advertising money is lost to Tribune because they have less eyes watching and that can not be recovered by then it is too late. I think that played a big part. Over the 17 or so years I have had DISH and all the years on the forums I can say I do believe Charlie when he said they were prepared to live without the Tribune channels, though it is part negotiating tactic too. He has proven he means it in the past, and when it comes to locals I double down on that.
As importantly we now see DISH has been negotiating for more than just the cost and bundling demands but also for OTT/digital rights and new package configurations. It sure seems that DISH is making a move to make changes and not just minor ones to both attract new customers and importantly to keep existing subs. Backing down on those types of contract conditions that are needed to do something like Flex, or perhaps to be able to reduce a package by $15 for subs for two years won't get it done. Did Charlie have to negotiate not having locals, not having ESPN, not having the RSN(s) in the Flex Pack? Did DISH have to negotiate
to have all the cable channels assembled in it the Flex Package? Is there a deal to help defray the cost of keeping customers that in the end helps both sides in negotiations? And then there's the shadow of wireless programming deals?