NOTICE TO DISH NETWORK SUBSCRIBERS

On July 6, 2012, Dish Network dropped 21 WFMJ from its lineup. Over the past several months, WFMJ and DISH Network have been negotiating the terms of a new retransmission agreement. The parties did not reach agreement before the old contract expired on July 6.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. Why did DISH drop WFMJ?

A. Under Federal law, DISH must have a contract (a "retransmission agreement") with WFMJ to carry the station's signal. WFMJ's old agreement with DISH expired on July 6, after it was extended several times. DISH is demanding rates that are far less than its competitors pay for WFMJ's signal. WFMJ made every effort to reach agreement with DISH, including a last-ditch proposal just before DISH pulled WFMJ from its lineup. DISH rejected that proposal and did not provide a counter-proposal. Instead, it stuck to its hard line position and dropped carriage of WFMJ's signal.

DISH has pulled many other local broadcaster signals. Youngstown viewers are just the latest victims of DISH's hard line position.

Q. Will DISH restore WFMJ before the Summer Olympic Games?

A. We cannot give any assurance that DISH will restore WFMJ before the Summer Olympic Games. We encourage all viewers affected by DISH's decision to take action right away to make sure they have another way to receive WFMJ.

Q. Am I still able to watch WFMJ after DISH dropped the signal?

A. Yes! WFMJ is being carried on all local cable and satellite distributors serving the valley except DISH. Please click here for a complete listing of cable and satellite providers in the area. Of course, WFMJ is always available for free with an over-the-air antenna. You can buy an antenna from many local merchants or order one online. Click here for a list of local merchants and online stores where you can buy an inexpensive antenna.

If you choose to switch from DISH to another provider, do so as soon as possible to allow time for the new provider to install your new service before the Summer Olympic Games. If you choose to use an antenna, hook it up and test it right away to be sure it works.

Q. Who should I contact to express my concerns about losing WFMJ?

A. Please contact DISH NETWORK: 1-888-236-2202. Let them know you value your local station and the programming WFMJ provides! Tell DISH to restore WFMJ and to add WBCB to its lineup. DISH is the only cable or satellite provider serving our area that does not carry WFMJ or WBCB, Youngstown's CW affiliate.

Q. Do I need to call WFMJ after I contact DISH?

A. No. While we appreciate your input and welcome your comments, it is not necessary to contact us after you have contacted DISH Network. Just make sure your voice is heard at DISH.

Q. The statement from Dish Network says that WFMJ is asking for a 250% increase. Is this accurate?

A. Contract negotiations are private matters. However, DISH's claims are misleading, because under the old contract, DISH paid WFMJ only a very small fee. Any increase would be large stated as a percentage. WFMJ is asking for pennies on the dollar compared with what DISH pays for lower rated channels. DISH's competitors already pay the low fee we are asking DISH to pay.

Q. If DISH pays the fees WFMJ is asking for won't DISH have to raise my rates?

There is no reason for DISH to raise its rates. DISH already charges you for local broadcast signals, and we believe it has plenty of room to pay WFMJ's fee without raising your rates. The cost of WFMJ's signal is insignificant compared to your total DISH bill.

Q. What is a retransmission agreement?

A. WFMJ, along with other broadcasters, enters into agreements with cable and satellite companies that deliver broadcast signals to their subscribers. WFMJ and other broadcast stations receive a small amount of compensation from these providers who take the broadcast signal and package it along with other networks to sell.

Although WFMJ and other broadcast stations are the highest rated channels on satellite and cable systems, broadcasters receive little compensation compared to cable networks. This has forced many stations to cut back on local news, sports and entertainment programming. If you've ever wondered why a lot of sports programming has disappeared from broadcast TV and gone to pay channels like ESPN and other expensive sports networks, now you know.

Many broadcasters are fighting to keep the best news, sports and entertainment programming on broadcast TV, where it's always free to people who can't afford to pay for cable or satellite service. That means providers like DISH, which have been charging you fees for local broadcast stations for years but paying little or nothing to the broadcast stations, are being asked to pay fair rates to broadcasters, just like they pay for other channels they provide. Even today, broadcasters are paid a fraction of what satellite and cable operators pay for cable networks, including a lot of channels most people never watch.

Q. DISH says WFMJ is greedy and this is just about WFMJ making more money. Is that true?

A. No. DISH dropped WFMJ's signal because it does not want to pay the same fair compensation to WFMJ that other providers pay. DISH would rather take WFMJ from its Youngstown subscribers than give up the excess profit it makes on local broadcast stations. DISH charges far more for WFMJ and other local broadcast stations than it pays to the stations. Broadcast stations are the highest rated channels on DISH Network, yet DISH pays broadcasters far less than it pays for networks few people watch.

DISH is one of the largest television companies in America. WFMJ is locally owned and operated right here in Youngstown. We are invested in Youngstown and other communities we serve, and we take our commitment to serve the public seriously. When large companies based in big cities take the local signal, sell it to you for a high price, and pay little or nothing to WFMJ, they are taking money and jobs out of Youngstown without providing anything in return. We don't think Youngstown citizens should be asked to subsidize DISH Network or its wealthy shareholders.