Fox News is advising its viewers to cancel their Dish subscription after it got dropped by the satellite-TV provider amid contract disputes.
The most-watched cable news network in the United States suddenly stopped airing for Dish subscribers on December 21 at around 12 AM. In addition, the Fox Business Network was also cut off due to the contract disputes.
Fox News posted a website, keepfoxnews.com, where site visitors can find other TV operators that broadcast the news network by typing in their zip code.
According to Fox News distribution executive vice president Tim Carry, the site already generated about 7,000 phone calls and more than 21,000 emails that requested Dish to put back the news channel.
In an interview, Carry said that he will do what's best to guarantee that the viewers can switch to other operators "as quickly as possible" as contract disputes between the firms go on. Fox offered Dish the same deals that it offers other operators.
On the other hand, Dish posted its own website dishstandsforyou.com, where it says that channel blackouts are starting to become normal due to the increasing costs for programming and switching to other TV operators will not make it better.
According to Dish, Fox tried to triple their rates on entertainment and sports channels that are not even part of the supposed-to-be renewed contract.
Senior vice president of Dish Warren Schlichting said that the Colorado-based satellite TV provider is regretting the disruption for its customers and is aiming to reach a consensus with Fox.
The Fox News blackout is not a first for Dish. The TV operator also cut off CBS on December 5, but returned hours after reaching an agreement.
In October, Cartoon Network and CNN, both owned by Turner Broadcasting, were also cut off. The two firms reached a temporary agreement on November 21, while they worked on a long-term deal.