DISH Network strikes deal to avoid subscribers losing access to WPXI

WPXI-TV struck a last-minute deal with DISH Network to avoid interrupting viewers’ access to the Pittsburgh station, officials said Monday.

Their prior contract expired Sunday.

The NBC-affiliate headquartered in Pittsburgh’s Summer Hill neighborhood had warned that viewers who use DISH Network for their satellite TV services might lose the channel if a deal couldn’t be reached.

DISH spokesman John Hall confirmed Monday that a new contract has been agreed upon but declined to comment further.

Officials did not disclose details about the contract’s terms.

WPXI had posted an alert Sunday to its website about the potential for DISH subscribers to lose access to WPXI content and encouraged viewers to call the provider to share their concerns. WPXI, which is owned by Cox Media Group, accused DISH of refusing to agree on “reasonable terms for the valuable programming we provide” and urged DISH “to step up like all of their competitors and peers have done.”

“We are unsure why Cox decided to involve customers in the contract negotiation process at a point when there is still time for the two parties to reach a mutually beneficial deal,” DISH told the Tribune-Review on Sunday morning.

The Colorado-based television provider said it aimed to reach a “fair, long-term deal” and that “only Cox Media Group can choose to take their content away from DISH customers.”

DISH had also pointed out that more viewers are using digital antennas for free access to their local channels.

The Tribune-Review is a news partner of WPXI.