Over a month ago now Fox Regional Sports Network (RSNs) went dark on Dish and Sling TV. This came as the networks were sold to Disney who has now sold the channels to Sinclair. Now after the month-long blackout Sling TV has fully removed the channels from their channel guide. Now when you go to the Sign TV Fox RSN page on their website, you see a message informing you of the blackout and a message saying “They have made unreasonable demands, and we refuse to impose those demands on you, our customer.”
Recently during Dish’s 2nd quarter 2019 Dish earnings calls Dish announced that they are considering dropping Fox RSNs permanently. Dish said they offered a 30-day extension to their contract implying that Fox RSNs rejected that offer. Dish pushed the idea of how costly Fox RSNs are and how few viewers really watch the Fox RSNs. Dish did warn that they do expect to lose subscribers but hopes the ones who stay will get a price break. Hopefully, this means Sling TV and Dish customers could see a price cut.
Dish has previously Cord Cutters News the following statement about the blackouts when they happened: “DISH and Sling has offered the Fox Regional Sports Networks a short-term extension, in an effort to quickly negotiate a fair, long-term deal for our customers. The RSNs offered an extension that would put the new expiration date up against the 2020 Major League Baseball Opening Day. They want to use baseball fans as negotiation leverage, while continuing to get paid in the meantime for sports with lower viewership. Coming to a fair deal is in the interest of customers, not a nine-month extension that simply puts them in the middle again.”
Recently Sinclair completed its purchase of Fox RSNs. This means Dish now has to negotiate with Sinclair instead of the team that was representing Disney during the time Disney owned the Fox RSNs. How exactly that will impact the talks at this time is unknown. Hopefully, soon we will get word one way or the other on the future of Fox RSNs on Sling TV and Dish.
How vital are Fox RSNs to you? Have you switched services because of the blackout? Leave us a comment and let us know how this has impacted you.
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