CBS pulled its programming from the Dish Network ahead of prime time Friday, after the network and Dish failed reach a new carriage agreement. “Unfortunately, Dish was unwilling to work towards an agreement that kept CBS stations available to its subscribers,” said a CBS statement.
“You can no longer see your favorite programs,” reads a message posted to the websites of CBS-owned-and-operated stations, urging viewers to complain to Dish. “Call Dish to demand they give you a rebate and return your favorite programs.” The decision impacts viewers in 14 markets that get CBS programming from CBS-owned stations, including WCBS-TV in New York, and KCBS-TV in Los Angeles.
A deadline of 7 p.m. ET Thursday passed with both sides continuing to talk–and CBS still on Dish–but 24 hours later, those talks appear to have failed. Previously, CBS had accused Dish of “deliberately dragging its feet” during negotiations, which have lasted for months. “Dish appears willing to drop the most popular programming in its entire channel lineup because it won’t negotiate the same sort of deal that other cable, satellite and telco companies have struck with CBS,” the network said in a statement. “Not reaching agreements is nothing new for Dish. In fact, Dish has dropped more than 120 stations since 2013 alone, whereas CBS has only had one service disruption.”