DISH loses locals in 113 markets; how to watch the channels now
DISH loses locals in 113 markets; how to watch the channels now
More than 225 local channel affiliates have been pulled from DISH due to a dispute with Gray Television. We’ll show you how to restore your access to the channels here.
A new carriage dispute has cut off access to local broadcast channels for millions of viewers. DISH customers around the United States have lost access to local ABC, CBS, Fox, or NBC affiliates thanks to a disagreement over fees with Gray Television, the owner of hundreds of channels across the country. If you’re one of the affected customers, The Streamable can help connect you with a way to watch those channels via live TV streaming services.
Key Details:
- Blackout: A total of 226 channels in 113 markets have been blacked out on DISH airwaves.
- Not realistic: DISH says that Gray’s retransmission fee demands would lead to higher costs for viewers.
- Best alternative: YouTube TV carries local channels in nearly all markets, and includes a 21-day free trial.
Altogether, 226 local ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC affiliates have been pulled from DISH in 113 markets across the country. Millions of viewers have lost access to the channels, including all the sports, news, and local programming they contain.
At the heart of the dispute lies negotiations over retransmission fees. DISH says that Gray is asking for too much in its new deal proposal, and that acquiescing to its demands would lead to “raised monthly bills for consumers,” according to a statement released by the satellite company.
Gray has the No. 1 or No. 2-rated station in 97 markets around the United States, so the loss of its channels from DISH is a big blow to customers. Gray has not issued a statement as of the time of this writing, but when it does, it will surely argue that it’s only asking for prevailing market rates for its channels.
If you’re a DISH customer who cannot afford to lose access to your local channels, we recommend giving YouTube TV a try. This service offers 90+ total channels in its base package, including local broadcast channels in nearly all American television markets, and is currently giving new subscribers a 21-day trial. It’s an excellent way to ensure access to your locals for the next three weeks for free while you wait for the DISH carriage fight to end.
| DIRECTV | Fubo | Hulu | Philo | Sling TV | YouTube TV | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | Free Trial | Free 3-Day Trial | Free Trial | Save with Sling | Free Trial | |||||
| $20.99 | $9.99 | $28.99 | $25 | $19.99 | $29.99 | $45.99 | $45.99 | $64.99 | ||
| ABC | + $24 | + $59 | + $61 | - | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | ✓ | |
| CBS | + $24 | + $59 | + $61 | - | - | - | - | - | ✓ | |
| Fox | + $19 | + $59 | + $61 | - | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | ✓ | |
| NBC | + $19 | + $11 | + $61 | - | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | ✓ | |
DIRECTV also includes local broadcast channels in its Signature channel plans, starting with the ENTERTAINMENT plan at $90 per month after a five-day free trial.
Hulu + Live TV carries locals as well, and offers a three-day trial. After it expires, plans cost $90 per month, but include the Disney Bundle of Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited at no additional cost.
Fubo is still locked in its own carriage dispute with NBCUniversal, and so only offers ABC, CBS, and Fox stations currently. Its Pro plan starts at $49 for a new subscriber’s first month.
YouTube TV
YouTube TV is a live TV streaming service with more than 60 channels for $82.99/month. This plan includes local channels 32 of the top 35 cable channels, and regional sports networks (RSNs) in select markets. The base plan includes more than 100 live channels, including major broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC, as well as popular cable channels such as ESPN, CNN, FX, USA Network, and TNT. Local channels are included in most markets, making YouTube TV a full replacement for traditional cable for many viewers.