LIN TV, Dish Network Reach Retransmission-Consent Deal
TV-Station Owner, Satellite-TV Provider Will Team Up on DTV-Education Campaign as Part of Agreement
By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 3/13/2008 11:00:00 AM
LIN TV struck a retransmission-consent deal with Dish Network for both standard-definition and HD signals from LIN TV's stations in 17 markets.
The deal includes teaming up on a digital-TV-education campaign to inform viewers about DTV-to-analog converter boxes. Dish is marketing a $39.99 box that will allow the $40 government-subsidy coupons to underwrite the entire cost of the box.
The two companies will also team up to encourage viewers to sign up for Dish service "if LIN TV's local-station signal is remaoved from a cable system." That move could give LIN more leverage in retransmission-consent negotiations with cable operators in its markets.
