ATLANTA, Dec. 02, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, Cox Media Group (CMG) again called on DISH to bring CMG’s television networks back onto its platform and to enter into good faith negotiations for a fair market deal. CMG is also demanding that DISH stop making false and misleading claims about the negotiations and CMG.

CMG’s statement comes just days after the company sent a cease-and-desist letter to DISH, asking it to withdraw it and to refrain from further misleading statements and allegations.

“DISH’s latest statement, like previous ones, is full of false claims. DISH aims to distract because the truth is obvious. All DISH has to do to get CMG stations back online is accept the non-binding extension proposal that CMG made prior to DISH’s unilateral blackout,” said Paul Curran, TV’s EVP for CMG.

“In relation to a renewal agreement, all we ask is that DISH agree to the industry standard terms to which they have previously agreed and under which they have worked with us for many years,” continued Curran. “This includes general terms and conditions and royalties that reflect the market and what DISH’s competitors have agreed upon for the valuable news, sports and programming content our channels offer their customers. We again call on DISH to restore CMG’s market-leading channels as CMG negotiates in good faith for a contract extension.”

In addressing specific new additional false claims made by DISH, CMG noted that it has never attempted to negotiate for stations it does not own. CMG also stressed that during the negotiations it had repeatedly asked for extensions of time so that the two sides could continue talks and keep CMG’s stations – and the programming that DISH’s customers wanted – on the air. These repeated requests were denied, and DISH eventually pulled CMG’s stations off the air before CMG’s contract with DISH had even expired.

“We again urge DISH to stop its compulsion to make false claims and instead work with us to find a solution,” Curran said.

DISH customers…