KOMO no longer available to DISH Network Subscribers

DISH Customers in the Seattle and Yakima, WA; Portland and Eugene, OR; Boise and Idaho Falls, ID; and Bakersfield, CA Markets Lose Ability to Receive Fisher's Signal and Programming; Fisher Also Files Breach of Contract Lawsuit Against DISH in Federal Court

SEATTLE, WA, Dec 18, 2008 -- DISH Network's satellite carriage agreement with Fisher Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSCI) expired on December 17, 2008, immediately leaving DISH customers in 7 media markets without the ability to receive Fisher's programming. Stations no longer available to DISH customers are: KOMO and KUNS in Seattle, KIMA and KUNW in Yakima, KATU in Portland, KVAL in Eugene, KBCI in Boise, KIDK in Idaho Falls, and KBAK and KBFX in Bakersfield.

"Despite Fisher's good-faith efforts to negotiate a new agreement, we were unable to reach acceptable terms to ensure that DISH provides us fair compensation for the value they receive from broadcasting our stations, which have leading positions in their markets and consistently deliver highly viewed news and programming," said Rob Dunlop, Fisher's Senior Vice President of Operations. "Our signal remains available over the public airwaves and through other service providers such as cable or DIRECTV. We regret any inconvenience DISH Network viewers may experience as they look for other options in order to watch our stations."

Separately, Fisher announced that it has filed a $1 million breach of contract lawsuit over DISH's failure to comply with the terms of the prior carriage agreement. The lawsuit was filed earlier today in federal district court in Oregon.

Fisher claims that DISH violated the terms of the carriage agreement when it failed to retransmit KUNP-TV's signal from July 2006, when Fisher acquired the station, until April 30, 2008. In addition, DISH has not paid Fisher any carriage fees for KUNP, as specified in the prior agreement.

In its complaint, Fisher also said that DISH breached the prior carriage agreement when it failed to pay Fisher in full for broadcasting KBAK and KBFX on its system. On January 1, 2008, Fisher acquired the two stations from Westwind Communications. While DISH has acknowledged that it has underpaid Fisher during that time period, it has not submitted proper payments to the Company

I think that DISH and Fisher need to make a compromise because this is a bunch of crap!

KOMO=ABC in the northwest

According to the dish announcement that is running on my dish channel 2, Katu is asking for an 80% increase. I like the fact that dish appears to actually be fighting for its customers.

I think at the end of the day Katu will cave because it means a loss of revenue and greed is what got them into this situation.

If i would of lost this channel 10 years ago i would of been a bit upset but today with so many other stations i am sure i wont miss what i don't see.

In this case Fisher=Greed.

WHBF, CBS4 & DISH had a long standoff. Rumor said WHBF wanted double. DISH did not even reply to their offer. It was settled one day before NFL season started. DISH dropped KWQC for just one day. KWQC was asking for 30 cents/month per subscriber. They settled for undisclosed amount. DISH does not carry locals in HD in my DMA.

DISH told me that you can subscribe to All American Direct and get an ABC feed from San Francisco or an east coast broadcast city that I can't remember.

1-800-909-9677

I am on hold as I speak.

I will let you know how much they charge after I get off the phone.

Personally, losing KOMO is no big deal to me so I'm all for not giving in to the higher rate increase KOMO is asking for. ABC doesn't have the sports like FOX, NBC, and CBS, except for college football. Luckily, ABC no longer has Monday Night Football or else I'd be more upset about this than I am.

I found out that it's $12.99 more a month and you get ABC,FOX,NBC,and CBS.......you can't get ABC only.
DISH told me that you can subscribe to All American Direct and get an ABC feed from San Francisco or an east coast broadcast city that I can't remember.

1-800-909-9677

I am on hold as I speak.

I will let you know how much they charge after I get off the phone.

You get 2 feeds for each network.....San Francisco and Atlanta.

I wish it was like $3 or $4 and I could get just ABC!!!!

i called DISH on the morning of the 18th and cursed them out for not giving a heads up this was coming. They gave me the local channel subscription for free for 3 months. I also sent KATU a nasty gram how these 2 entities are being greedy...they replied that Dish is not telling the truth...
Anyway, I remembered that HD signals can be pulled with an antenna and just ran a simple one to the back of my Sony Bravia's UHF and viola, I now have local ABC (KATU in Portland) at 720 HD...now I will call them about how many HD channels they have as they have been pimping that they were to have 150 by the end of 08...

My boss called All American Direct and you CAN get just ABC!!

They are aware of Fisher not allowing DISH to broadcast KOMO so they are offering 12 months of ABC (San Francisco and Atlanta) for $40.!

I am considering this deal but with my luck I will subscribe and they will work it out in 3 months so it will be a waste!

My boss called All American Direct and you CAN get just ABC!!

They are aware of Fisher not allowing DISH to broadcast KOMO so they are offering 12 months of ABC (San Francisco and Atlanta) for $40.!

I am considering this deal but with my luck I will subscribe and they will work it out in 3 months so it will be a waste!

That sounds a bit pricey and probably the reason for the dispute between Dish and Fisher.