2 Major Pittsburgh TV Stations No Longer Available On Dish

PITTSBURGH, PA — Two significant Pittsburgh TV stations now can't be accessed on the Dish satellite service due to a rights fees dispute.

WTAE-TV joins WPXI-TV as stations that can't be accessed via Dish. Negotiations between WTAE and Dish were supposed to end July 31 but were extended a month while negotiations continued.

“The Dish negotiating team is seeking the right to carry our stations at below market rates.” WTAE general manager Charles Wolfertz said in a statement. He noted that WTAE still is available "over the air and, where available from local cable or other satellite operators."

Unsurprisingly, Dish sees things differently.

WTAE station owner Hearst "continues to raise its prices despite its declining viewership and lower-quality content," said Gary Schanman, executive vice president and group president, video services, Dish Network. "Demanding higher rates for the same entertainment and news just doesn't make sense, especially as Hearst's content is widely available on other platforms."

WPXI has not been available on Dish since last November because of a similar dispute.