Plus, in other major broadcaster vs. MPVD dispute that got ugly, it was the people who complained to their representative in D.C. as to why they can't watch their sports on their local channel that was "taken away" from the big broadcaster. Congress got involved with hearings, openly pushing parties to come to an agreement, and this really means the broadcasters are in the less favorable position in that at hearings, broadcasters are remind that they have a FREE license and those local channels are still owned by the people and that broadcasters are reminded of their use of the airwaves for the "community" good, and how are "mu constituents supposed to get timely update during dangerous weather if they can't get one of their big local stations. Isn't that part of your duty for public affaris?" No longer legal requirements those are, but Congress stands ready to do so if the broadcasters and MVPD don't come to a quick agreement, and that usually means the broadcaster really can NOT stick it to the MVPD: broadcasters no longer have the leverage and end up the loser. When CBS was pulled from Dish last time, it was old Mel K. who felt Congress hot on his neck, and he blinked after about a day after the hearings. And as for the previous TWC Vs. Disney (ABC O&O's) it was pretty much the same thing. The broadcasters are in an terrible position to hold out on the MVPD's. Ol' Les can only push so far before it bites him in the form of unwanted new federal laws for broadcasters. One of them should be we auction off all those FREE LUNCH OTA broadcast licenses, and get some money out of them, at least.
Keep in mind these were, and only happens, when it is the O&O's that are in the largest cities in America, the stations owned by the broadcast network, not the much smaller disputes in smaller DMA's.