Portland, Oregon's KATU booted from DISH Network
Oh, geez. Yet another cat fight akin to something you'd see on a third-grade playground between a greedy broadcast station and a greedy carrier. Portland, Oregon's KATU -- which can be received for free over-the-air -- has been dropped from DISH Network. A message on the station's website informs citizens that it had "been in negotiations with DISH in an attempt to reach a new agreement," but sadly, "those negotiations have not yet been successful." You now the story by now -- said station asserts that the carrier charges users a fee for access, and so rightfully, some of that fee should trickle back to the channel. The carrier, on the other hand, reckons that carriage should be free since it can easily be obtained by locals via an OTA antenna. We'll keep you posted on any developments, but until then, it's OTA or bust (or DirecTV / cable, to be honest) for resident DISH customers.[Thanks, Lance and Jonny]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jonny @ Dec 18th 2008 6:24PM
It's seems that's it's not just KATU but all stations owned by Fisher.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6624074.html
Lynn Lago @ Dec 23rd 2008 8:29PM
What do you mean? What other stations are we being robbed of now?
Jordan @ Dec 18th 2008 6:43PM
KGW is better anyways.
wingsno19 @ Dec 18th 2008 9:39PM
I side with Dish on this in that Katu is trying to get ESPN type $$ out of Dish which eventually means $$ out of my pocket. I have Dish, but also use OTA. I can still get Katu over the air, but now I lose the program guide info, which makes it useless.
Erik @ Dec 19th 2008 2:58PM
You actually like listening to that tool Salesky and that chubby ho Tracy Barry? And don't even get me started on Brenda Braxton. Useless bunch of suck-ups.
John Galt @ Dec 18th 2008 7:16PM
Not the first time for Dish either - the same messaging was sent out nationally for GolTV over the summer.
William C Bonner @ Dec 18th 2008 10:36PM
I get my local ABC in Seattle over the air from Fischer Broadcasting. My HD Tivo was set to capture Pushing Daisys last night. About 5 minutes into the show, the screen froze, then two minutes later it switched to have black bars at the sides and a scrolling ticker at the bottom talking about the issue. (at a different place in the show from where the HD picture had frozen)
their "banner add-on" equipment obviously doesn't work with the HD stream. the jump around stuff makes me just go and find a torrent download of the show that will likely have a straight through storyline.
Lynn Lago @ Dec 23rd 2008 8:28PM
I have been happy with DISH but unfortunately I watch ABC. Come January I'll pay the 13.00 a month and get out.
I've already called DIRECT TV and frankly, it's cheaper to get on DIRECT TV that DISH was and I'm gone.
Sad ABC customer in Oregon...............
John @ Dec 28th 2008 6:32PM
What about just calling Dish and asking them to pick the WEST COAST feed of ABC. We don't need the KATU feed, we just want ABC. Frankly KATU just sucks.
Dale @ Jan 7th 2009 6:46PM
these two entities are acting like the Union and the Company what do we have to do send them to litigation.
edie @ Jan 19th 2009 8:14PM
it is very sad that at this time in our recession two such giants that provide entertainment to our home are in such deadlock over greed. we are all creatures of habit and mine habits are slowly changing and finding new channels with great entertainment.