Business
Gray Media Forces Blackout of 226 Local Channels, Disrupting DISH TV Customers Nationwide
Following Gray Media's decision to black out its local stations from the DISH TV lineup, 226 channels in 113 markets are currently unavailable to DISH customers. Gray Media chose to disconnect these stations—which provide critical local news, sports, and weather—after DISH refused to accept unreasonable rate increases that would have raised monthly bills for consumers.
About this update from Gray Media, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"ENGLEWOOD, Colo., March 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Following Gray Media's decision to black out its local stations from the DISH TV lineup, 226 channels in 113 markets are currently unavailable to DISH customers. Gray Media chose to disconnect these stations—which provide critical local news, sports, and weather—after DISH refused to accept unreasonable rate increases that would have raised monthly bills for consumers.","length":424,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"image","alt":"EchoStar (PRNewsfoto/EchoStar Corporation)","displaySize":"","headline":null,"caption":"EchoStar (PRNewsfoto/EchoStar Corporation)","className":"","disableSlideshowImg":false,"size":{"original":{"width":400,"height":123,"url":"https://media.zenfs.com/en/prnewswire.com/c0563eed7919528511b93eab69d7a8a4"},"resized":{"url":"https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/Mcy0nL4WvpF.xFgGtQm2.w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTcwNTtoPTIxNztjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/prnewswire.com/c0563eed7919528511b93eab69d7a8a4","width":400,"height":123}},"href":"https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2309198/ECHOSTAR_LOGO_RED.html","hrefExternal":true,"rel":"nofollow"},{"type":"text","content":"Why Are Channels Missing?Gray Media is utilizing its market dominance to demand "retransmission consent" fee hikes that are disconnected from the reality of declining viewership and the availability of free and low-cost streaming alternatives. Gray Media also introduced "last-minute" demands regarding stations they don't yet own, stalling negotiations just hours before expiration. DISH remains ready to restore these channels immediately if Gray Media agrees to a fair, market-based deal.","length":516,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":""It is deeply disappointing that Gray Media is using its viewers as bargaining chips," said Kevin Covell, Senior Vice President, DISH Video Services. "We offered a fair agreement to keep these stations on the air, but Gray Media walked away. Gray Media chose to black out their own viewers, rather than reasonably negotiate, in an attempt to extract significantly higher fees."","length":397,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":"Key Facts for Affected Viewers:","length":31,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"list","items":[{"val":[{"type":"text","content":"Total Impact: 226 local stations in 113 markets across the U.S.","length":63,"tag...