MASN and NBC Regional Sports Networks removed from DISH TV, SLING TV

[Scott Greczkowski]

MASN and NBC Regional Sports Networks removed from DISH TV, SLING TV
April 1, 2021

-- DISH proposes new model that is fair to both customers and station owners
ENGLEWOOD, Colo., April 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MASN and NBC Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) were removed from DISH TV and SLING TV last night, affecting access in 10 states and Washington D.C. With this removal, DISH TV customers will no longer have access to the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN), and DISH TV and SLING TV customers will no longer have access to NBC Sports Washington, NBC Sports Bay Area and NBC Sports California.

"The current RSN model is fundamentally broken," said Brian Neylon, Group President, DISH TV. "This model requires nearly all customers to pay for RSNs when only a small percentage of customers actually watch them. As the cost of these channels continues to escalate, we no longer think it makes sense to include them in our TV lineup."

MASN and NBC RSNs are demanding rates that would be passed on to nearly every customer, whether they watch RSNs or not. This inequitable model has become antiquated due to the rise of a la carte viewing options and specialized streaming services.

"Our proposal to offer sports fans access to RSNs is simple, and provides choice and value to all of our customers," added Neylon. "It would allow DISH TV and SLING TV customers to choose to subscribe to the RSN channels they want — such as the regional MASN and NBC sports networks — on an a la carte basis, similar to premium subscription channels. With this updated RSN model, no customer would be forced to pay for content they don't watch, and the RSNs would determine the price customers would pay for their channels."

DISH has made this consumer-friendly proposal to MASN and NBC, but they have been unwilling to accept, choosing instead to continue with the old, broken model. DISH continues to remain open to working with the RSNs to offer sports content in a way that provides choice and value to all customers.

DISH customers can visit DISHPromise.com for more information.


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[Bobby]

It makes absolute sense to me. Why should non sports lovers subsidize sports lovers. I happen to like sports a lot. If I were to go to the games it would cost me a ton of money just to see one game. I would be willing to pay extra to see the sports that interest me. But, the sports team owners want as much money as they can get to line their bank accounts as well as pay exorbitant salaries to the players. So, they sold TV rights to the RSNs who paid exorbitant amounts of money for those rights. The RSNs know that if things go totally a la carte they will not be able to recoup their investment. That, IMHO, is their problem not the DISH subscribers. The system is broken and it needs to be fixed from the players to the owners to the RSNs.

 

[Don in CT]

So when is Dish dropping ESPN?

Let's also not forget the networks just paid billions for the NFL. So will Dish not pay CBS or Fox?

 

[Bobby]

So when is Dish dropping ESPN?

Let's also not forget the networks just paid billions for the NFL. So will Dish not pay CBS or Fox?

That is actually a great question. Keep in mind that ESPN, as well as ABC, is owned by Disney. There is a lot of negotiation leverage to that. ESPN is the most expensive sports channel available. They also have the most extensive sports coverage of all the rest. The RSNs are niche channels by comparison. I really don't see ESPN ever going away. Even non sports lovers will occasionally watch some game on ESPN but not so much on an RSN. As to CBS and Fox (you did an edit while I was typing), They have much more than just the NFL so they won't go anywhere either.

 

[Don in CT]

That is actually a great question. Keep in mind that ESPN, as well as ABC, is owned by Disney. There is a lot of negotiation leverage to that. ESPN is the most expensive sports channel available. They also have the most extensive sports coverage of all the rest. The RSNs are niche channels by comparison. I really don't see ESPN ever going away. Even non sports lovers will occasionally watch some game on ESPN but not so much on an RSN. As to CBS and Fox (you did an edit while I was typing), They have much more than just the NFL so they won't go anywhere either.

If the goal is to cut costs and most people don't care about sports, ESPN has to go.

 

[Bobby]

If the goal is to cut costs and most people don't care about sports, ESPN has to go.

The thing is most people do care about some sports the non sports lovers are a minority.

 

[TV Junkie]

Providers need to supply what is desired. Why can't they sell EVERY CHANNEL individually...?

America's Top 120? Useless if viewer stays parked on news or espn all day.

 

[zippyfrog]

From everything I have read, the Dish contract with Disney expires in 2022, so it looks like it will be negotiated shortly. I read somewhere that Dish pays Disney something like $15 a month in carriage fees for all the channels (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, Longhorn Network, SEC Network, ACC Network, Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Jr, Freefrom, the ABC O&O channels, and I might be missing some) and ESPN itself was close to $9. I can't see Disney allowing Dish to keep the non-sports channels but move the sports to an a-la-carte basis. At least not right now.

And with the new contracts ESPN has signed with the NFL, NHL, the SEC and MLB over the past year, when those contracts kick in the money has to come from somewhere...and I believe it is over $3 billion a year when the new contracts are in play.

Will be interesting to see if Dish plays hardball and drops all the Disney owned networks. Let's say Dish has 7 million subscribers in a year that subscribe to the base package and the cost is $15 per subscriber - would Disney walk away from over $100 million a month?

 

[Don in CT]

Dish should just market themselves as the no sports service.

 

[Bruce]

It makes absolute sense to me. Why should non sports lovers subsidize sports lovers. I happen to like sports a lot.

When we had Comcast, the locals and RSN fees were really ramping up, I believe $8 and $6 dollars ( now a lot more ), I called them up and said to them-if you are charging me extra then you should give me the option of not receiving the channels and not paying the extra, specially since I do not watch them, they, of course, said no way, I immediately cancelled and went to Vue ( now with YTTV).

All these extra fees from all providers really piss me off, box fees, DVR fees, sports fees, local Broadcast fees, etc fees, I hate the bait and switch from the advertisements.

Charter I find is the worse, I flirted going with them when we moved to Florida, that cheap basic channels $24.95 deal quickly becomes over $50 once you add all the fees in.

 

[PortlandChris]

If the goal is to cut costs and most people don't care about sports, ESPN has to go.

Not gonna happen.

ESPN and other Disney properties are a package deal.

 

[nyrfan1]

1. Since DISH is not paying for the channels that were cut off, shouldnt we receive a lower rate?

2. Is there a way to watch MLB.TV in your home market that works with a firestick???

 

[PortlandChris]

When we had Comcast, the locals and RSN fees were really ramping up, I believe $8 and $6 dollars ( now a lot more ), I called them up and said to them-if you are charging me extra then you should give me the option of not receiving the channels and not paying the extra, specially since I do not watch them, they, of course, said no way, I immediately cancelled and went to Vue ( now with YTTV).

All these extra fees from all providers really piss me off, box fees, DVR fees, sports fees, local Broadcast fees, etc fees, I hate the bait and switch from the advertisements.

Charter I find is the worse, I flirted going with them when we moved to Florida, that cheap basic channels $24.95 deal quickly becomes over $50 once you add all the fees in.

And what happened....Vue went out of business...Comcast imposed data caps, and jacked up stand alone internet pricing, and well you pay a lot more anyway.

 

[TigerWoodsLibido]

If Dish dropped ESPN & Disney, they would go bankrupt from subscriber losses.

 

[ttomni6]

2. Is there a way to watch MLB.TV in your home market that works with a firestick???

Unfortunately, due to the ridiculous blackout rules, if your home team is broadcast on the RSN you no longer receive, the game will be blacked out for you. So consider the following examples to see how it might pertain to your situation...

Here in Hawaii, we are considered part of the California market. The NHL is not a problem this year because of the way the league is segmented due to Covid. But next year if we get back to normal, when the Rangers or Islanders (the 2 I care about) play the Ducks, Kings or Sharks - all those games will be blacked out even after buying NHL Center Ice or NHL.TV.

Likewise, I enjoy seeing the Mets and Yankees during baseball season. Even having the MLB package, any games involving the Angels, Dodgers, Athletics, Padres or Giants will not be available.

Sometimes the teams I'm interested in are scheduled for MLB TV and are also on the California RSN. In that case, the MLB.TV broadcast will also be blacked out. Same for the NBA if I'm trying to see the Blazers play one of the California RSN teams.

Good luck with your final decisions.

 

[Don in CT]

Not gonna happen.

ESPN and other Disney properties are a package deal.

Then Dish cannot say they care about bringing prices down.

 

[pattykay]

Then Dish cannot say they care about bringing prices down.

When was the last time the price of a Dish programming package went down?

 

[FLEABttn]

Why should non sports lovers subsidize sports lovers.

Why should sports lovers subsidize the nonsene rerun and diginet channels that everyone here seems to love?

 

[Don in CT]

When was the last time the price of a Dish programming package went down?

That seems to be their excuse for dropping sports channels.

 

[PortlandChris]

Then Dish cannot say they care about bringing prices down.

That is a leap. They can say whatever they want. You are free to believe them or not.