Dish Asks FCC To Allow Distant Feeds During Local Carriage Disruptions

EchoStar Communications, the parent company of Dish Network and Sling TV, petitioned the FCC Friday to eliminate a rule that bars its pay TV services from importing alternative broadcast network feeds during carriage disputes with local TV stations.

Under current FCC regulations, local TV stations affiliated with major networks (e.g., ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW) hold exclusive rights to distribute their programming within their designated markets. This means that satellite and cable providers like Dish Network and Sling TV cannot replace a local affiliate with a station from another market or a national feed during disputes, even if the local station is blacked out due to failed retransmission consent negotiations. These blackouts can deprive viewers of major network programming, including news, sports, and primetime shows.

EchoStar’s Proposal:

EchoStar is asking the FCC to abolish these exclusivity rules, specifically the syndicated exclusivity and network non-duplication regulations. Their argument is that allowing providers to import distant network-affiliated signals (e.g., a New York or Los Angeles affiliate) during a blackout would ensure customers retain access to network content. 

Potential Implications:  

For Viewers: If approved, this change could reduce disruptions, ensuring continuous access to network programming during disputes. However, it might weaken local stations’ leverage, potentially affecting their revenue and ability to provide local content.

For Broadcasters: Local affiliates and groups like Nexstar or TEGNA oppose this, as it could undermine their exclusivity and bargaining power in retransmission negotiations, reducing their control over how their signal is distributed.

For Providers: Dish and Sling TV could gain flexibility to maintain service continuity, potentially making their platforms more appealing to subscribers frustrated by blackouts.

Critique of the Narrative:

While EchoStar frames this as a pro-consumer move, it’s worth noting their financial incentive: blackouts lead to subscriber complaints and potential churn, which hurts their bottom line. On the other hand, local broadcasters rely on exclusivity to secure retransmission fees, which fund local journalism and operations. Relaxing these rules could shift power toward larger providers and national networks, possibly at the expense of smaller markets’ unique content. The FCC will likely face pressure from both sides, with broadcasters arguing that this erodes the local broadcasting model.