WFMJ, DISH reach contract agreement

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Local television station 21 WFMJ-TV has ended its dispute with DISH Network, with the two sides reaching a retransmission agreement.

The station and the Texas-based satellite-TV provider hit an impasse two weeks ago when the two sides could not agree on a price increase sought by WFMJ. As a result, DISH stopped carrying WFMJ.

With Wednesday’s announcement of a contract agreement, DISH resumed carrying WFMJ — just in time for the Olympics, which open Friday and will be carried by the NBC affiliate.

Jack Grdic, general manager of WFMJ, thanked viewers for their patience during the dispute. “After speaking with many local DISH Network subscribers, I am pleased that the overwhelming majority understood the circumstances and were very supportive of WFMJ throughout this period,” said Grdic.

“We are always pleased when WFMJ’s distribution partners acknowledge the tremendous value of the outstanding programming WFMJ provides,” he continued. “After years of focusing on quantity over quality, pay-television providers are recognizing that local broadcast stations provide the most popular and valuable programming available. Carriage negotiations can be difficult, but they are necessary to preserve our ability to bring our viewers the best in local news, sports and entertainment programming.”