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DISH DROPS GRAY MEDIA’S STATIONS OVER UNPRECEDENTED NEW DEMAND TO RESHAPE THE TELEVISION INDUSTRY TO ENRICH ITS OWNER

ATLANTA, March 11, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For the first time in its history, Gray Media’s television stations have been dropped by Dish Network, a serial instigator of disputes that have removed thousands of broadcast and cable channels from their paying customers over the years. Gray’s track record for fair and reasonable distribution negotiations is undisputed in the industry. Gray has never had its signals dropped by a satellite operator, and its last multimarket cable system dispute lasted

articleGray Media, Inc.March 11, 20263/company/gray-television-inc/news/dish-drops-gray-medias-stations-over-unprecedented-new-demand-to-reshape-the-television-industry-to-enrich-its-owner
DISH DROPS GRAY MEDIA’S STATIONS OVER UNPRECEDENTED NEW DEMAND TO RESHAPE THE TELEVISION INDUSTRY TO ENRICH ITS OWNER

About this update from Gray Media, Inc.

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