Cox Media Group and DISH Suspend Contractual Dispute to Air Critical News and Programming in Markets Across the Country
Move Gives Viewers Access to Important Public Health Information During COVID-19 Crisis
ATLANTA – March 15, 2020 – Cox Media Group today released the following statement:
Our nation is facing an unprecedented health challenge due to the COVID-19 outbreak. To help keep our communities safe and informed, Cox Media Group has worked closely with DISH Network to agree to set aside the contractual retransmission dispute between the two companies during this time for DISH to resume carriage of the Cox Media Group stations in the following markets:
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These stations provide critical local news, as well as network content from ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX, and have all been blacked out by DISH since mid-January due to an ongoing contract dispute between CMG and DISH. All stations have now been restored by DISH to its lineup, effective immediately. This is an example of broadcasters and distributors setting aside their differences to ensure our communities are being served by their favorite local broadcast news outlets.
“From the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak, our CMG newsrooms across the country have been working around the clock to provide accurate and up-to-date information to the communities we serve,” said Kim Guthrie, CEO of Cox Media Group. “We are pleased DISH has agreed to restore these channels on its line-up so that our viewers in these communities can be informed and able to make the right decisions for the safety of their families. We appreciate DISH’s cooperation in agreeing to suspend our dispute so that we can help our viewers navigate through this uncertain time.”
About Cox Media Group
Cox Media Group (CMG) is an industry-leading media company with dominant brands, award-winning content, and exceptional people. CMG provides valuable local content to diverse audiences in the communities in which it serves. The company’s operations include 33 market-leading television stations in 20 markets, 54 award-winning radio stations in 10 markets and numerous multi-platform streaming video and digital platforms. Cox Media Group’s portfolio includes affiliates of ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and MyNetworkTV, as well as several valuable independent stations. For more information about Cox Media Group and its businesses, please visit www.coxmediagroup.com.
