Starting on March 10, a large number of Dish Network customers have found themselves unable to access various channels that provide local news, sports, and weather. This blackout is the result of a clash with Gray Media.
Gray Media has pulled 226 channels from 113 U.S. markets due to Dish’s refusal to accept what it deemed unfair rate hikes that would affect subscribers’ monthly costs.
“It’s really disappointing that Gray Media is using audiences as leverage,” remarked Kevin Covell, DISH Video Services’ senior vice president. In a statement issued on March 10, he expressed that, “We tried to negotiate a fair deal to keep these channels available, but Gray Media chose to walk away. By doing so, they opted for a blackout of their own viewers without reasonable discussions, aiming for significantly higher fees.”
For Dish Network users in the affected regions, this means no access to local broadcasts from major networks like ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CW, MyNetwork TV, or Telemundo.
Moreover, sports fans miss out on key events like the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals on FOX, along with the Big East Basketball Tournament finals, The Players Championship golf tournament on NBC, and much more. Also, CBS will air important college basketball games leading to Selection Sunday.
Even for those not into sports, major television events are affected. CBS has popular Sunday night shows like “Truckers” and “Marshalls,” while Harry Styles is set to host “Saturday Night Live” on NBC. The Academy Awards will be shown on ABC this coming Sunday, March 15.
However, alternatives do exist, including our recommended live TV streaming service, DIRECTV, which provides a 5-day free trial across its plans.
Ways to Access Blacked Out Channels on Dish Network for Free
DIRECTV provides diverse plan options that include the channels impacted by the blackout. All plans come with a 5-day free trial.
Here’s a pricing overview after the free trial, along with details of some popular DIRECTV plans:
- Entertainment: $49.99/month for the first month ($89.99/month thereafter)
- ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CW, MyNetworkTV, Telemundo
- Choice: $59.99 for the first month + 1 month MySports free ($94.99/month thereafter)
- ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CW, MyNetworkTV, Telemundo
- Ultimate: $84.99/month for the first month ($124.99/month thereafter)
- ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CW, MyNetworkTV, Telemundo
- MySports Genre Pack: $69.99/month
- ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX (including ESPN Unlimited)
- MyNews Genre Pack: $34.99/month for the first two months ($39.99/month thereafter)
- Freeform, FX, FXM, FXX, Nat Geo, Nat Geo Wild
