DISH Network and Sling TV (owned by DISH) are working on a pricing model that allows their customers to choose which regional sports networks they want. Currently, RSNs are only available through existing programming packages and usually have fees for all subscribers. Under this new proposal, customers can decide which packages they want and let the RSNs set rates.
Currently, Mid-Atlantic Sports Network and all NBC RSNs were blacked out for DISH TV and Sling TV subscribers affecting 10 states and Washington D.C. DISH TV customers will not be able to watch MASN, and both DISH and Sling TV subscribers will not be able to watch NBC Sports Bay City Area, NBC Sports California, and NBC Sports Washington.
DISH’s latest RSN a la carte pitch failed to gain traction with MASN and NBC Sports.
Brian Neylon, group president for DISH TV said in a statement, “The current RSN model is fundamentally broken,” he continued, “This model requires nearly all customers to pay for RSNs when only a small percentage of customers actually watch them. As the cost of these channels continues to escalate, we no longer think it makes sense to include them in our TV lineup.”
When reached out for comment, a spokesperson from NBC Regional Sports Networks said that the channels that were eventually blacked out were offered for continued distro under fair market terms but both DISH Network and Sling TV declined the terms ultimately dropping the networks.
The latest battle between NBC, MASN, DISH, and Sling rages on as vMVPD fuboTV reached a new deal with Sinclair’s Marquee Sports Network- a RSN for the Chicago Cubs. This channel will be available to select customers in certain areas with a regional sports fee of up to $6 per month.
Source: FierceVideo
