It's interesting how the business model has changed. Back in the day, the networks compensated the stations for carrying their lineup. Now they want the stations to pay for programs that the networks are already making millions off of from advertising and syndication deals to cable.
Maybe that was the plan all along, to get the ratings up high enough drawing enough of a crowd to start charging for their service. Maybe someday Dish Network will get to charge the stations for airing their channels (they already do - the shopping channels).