Business

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Mike Benbow, Business Editor benbow@heraldnet.com   Published: Saturday, December 20, 2008 2 Seattle stations dropped by DISH Network By Yoshiaki Nohara Herald Writer DISH Network Corp. has removed KOMO-TV and other television stations owned by Fisher Communications Inc. from its programming lineup as the two companies dispute over a contract extension. The carriage agreement between the two companies expired Wednesday, leaving DISH satellite customers without Fisher's programming. Stations unavailable to the customers are: KOMO and KUNS in Seattle; KIMA and KUNW in Yakima; KATU in Portland, Ore.; KVAL in Eugene, Ore.; KBCI in Boise, Idaho; KIDK in Idaho Falls, Idaho; and KBAK and KBFX in Bakersfield, Calif. "We were unable to reach acceptable terms to ensure that DISH provides us fair compensation for the value they receive from broadcasting our stations," Rob Dunlop, Fisher's senior vice president of operations, said in a statement. Fisher is demanding unreasonable contract terms and a rate increase of 82 percent, DISH Network, of Englewood, Colo., said. "We need fair contracts and competitive pricing for our customers," Eric Sahl, the company's senior vice president of programming, said in a statement. "This is why we refuse Fisher Communications' request for increased pricing and unreasonable terms." Ron Low, who handles media inquiries for Fisher, on Friday declined to say how many customers are affected by the dispute. Fisher operates 13 full-power and eight low-power television stations, as well as eight radio stations, in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and California. Meanwhile, the Seattle-based company filed a lawsuit against DISH in federal district court in Oregon earlier this week. Fisher claims that DISH failed to retransmit Fisher's KUNP between July 2006 and April 2008. DISH also didn't pay Fisher for carrying the station, Fisher said. The lawsuit is without merit, DISH officials said in a statement. "We are bewildered by their allegation that any money could be owed," part of the statement said. Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@heraldnet.com. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

1. Lake Stevens neighbors protest loss of left turn off Highway 9 2. Police look into fire at Emory's restaurant in Everett 3. Man who died from fall identified 4. Mural memorializing fallen soldier lost in effort to fix Silvana building 5. Marysville-Pilchuck comes up short in battle of unbeatens 6. 'Twilight' tourism 7. Accident near Poulsbo kills Marysville man, injures five 8. In Forks, it's always Twilight 9. Expect wintry roads at passes, dusting of snow on Snohomish County hills 10. Icy conditions lead to numerous wrecks on county roads 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Memorial for Peggy Pritchard Olson set • Bazaar Fever • Hawks proud of historic season • Olson always put Edmonds first • Honoring student veterans • ‘Wheedle' author comes to Lynnwood bookshop • Mavs build early lead en route to easy win • Prep football games of the week (state playoffs) • Tears of laughter, tears of grief • Boeing will build, flight test and deliver 787s in South Carolina to spe ... • Snohomish County EDC promoting job growth in key industry clusters • $4 million grant to advance brain tumor research has Everett links • Providence medical center construction tops off its 12-story steel frame ... • Tulalip affordable housing project to be financed by KeyBank, Raymond Ja ... • Arlington's Lak of Ink has a growing following for Luke Kooyman's creati ... • Bank of the Northwest formed • Cascade Bank earns $1.6 million