FOX, FS1, FS2, & Big Ten Network Dropped From Sling TV & Dish Network

After removing Fox Regional Sports Networks from Dish and Sling last month, Dish Network is facing a new carriage battle. Today, Fox owned-and-operated locals, FS1, FS2 were dropped by Sling TV, while Big Ten Network, Fox Deportes, Fox Soccer Plus were dropped by Dish in addition to the other channels.

The channels, along with Fox Regional Sports Networks, had previously been available as part of the Sling’s Blue plan — which has been decimated in the last month.

“Taken together, Fox’s actions are profoundly anti-consumer,” said Andy LeCuyer, DISH SVP of Programming. “Fox is raising prices and turning its back on its public obligation to provide channels to consumers for free. It’s clear that Fox cares more about padding its bottom line than serving its viewers.”

“To add insult to injury, Fox pulled its channels right as viewers head into the heart of the NFL and college football season,” continued LeCuyer. “We ask Fox to stop punishing its own viewers so we can focus on reaching a fair deal.”

What Sling TV Subscribers Are Seeing

In their own statement, Fox said, “Dish/Sling is at it again, choosing to drop leading programming as a negotiating tactic regardless of the impact on its own customers. Dish/Sling elected to drop Fox networks in an effort to coerce us to agree to outrageous demands. While we regret this is Dish/Sling’s preferred approach to negotiating, we remind our loyal viewers that the Fox services are widely available through every other major television provider.”

On Sling TV, Fox owned-and-operated locals were the only FOX locals carried by the service, meaning all subscribers who previously had the channel are now blacked out. Some of the biggest markets affected are Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Francisco, Tampa, and Washington DC.

Last June, Dish and Sling TV lost Univision, UniMás, and El Rey in a carriage dispute. After a 9 month holdout, the the channels returned to Dish, but not to streamer Sling TV.

In November, HBO and Cinemax were removed from Sling & Dish in a dispute with AT&T — and have not returned. And last month, both Meredith-owned locals were dropped and Fox Regional Sports Networks were dropped by Dish. In both cases, the channels have not yet returned — and for Fox RSNs, according to Dish Chairman Charlie Ergen, “It doesn’t look good that the Regional Sports will be on Dish again.