*IF* Dish's claim is true, I agree with you. But it seems like such a strange leap, I have a hard time believing it on face value.So Sagamore wants paid for subs that do not subscribe to their channels, just as long as they live in the area? Sounds like Sagamore really is stretching here... and should honestly lose their broadcast license for that one. That is not something that is reasonable. OTA should always be their main source of income. It’s not on Dish customers that can receive OTA to pay for channels they can and do choose to receive OTA. That is crappy.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, if MVPDs wouldn't have charged customers to get the locals in the first place, I think stations wouldn't have charged them for the signal. MVPDs could have done one of their annual price increases and said "we're now providing your locals for free, because it's important you get them". They still get their money, but the PR side make it look like they're doing a service.The broadcasters shouldn’t get anything to retransmit their signal.
If anything they should be happy to be on as many platforms as possible.
IMHO, if they want to charge for their content they should shut down their transmitter and return their license to the FCC. TheY can then be a cable channel
Carrying locals was a HUGE benefit for Dish/Direct. Whether you (general) want to admit it or not, but LiL was needed to make the satellite providers a true competitor for cable.