2 Toledo channels blocked from DISH Network customers

8/2/2013

DISH Network customers have been blocked from seeing two Toledo TV channels because of a rate dispute.

Raycom Media has blocked access to WUPW Channel 36 and WTOL Channel 11 for customers of the satellite TV company, effective today.

The dispute also affects Raycom stations in 35 other television markets, including Cleveland.

A statement issued by DISH said Raycom wants a "massive" price increase, and that DISH has offered to pay the same rates as its primary competitors for the same programming.

"We are ready to listen to a fair proposal from Raycom to bring this impasse to a swift end," said Sruta Vootukuru, DISH director of programming.

Raycom said it has been working with DISH Network for several months to resolve the issue.

“We understand this is frustrating for DISH Network customers, we share their frustration, and we are committed to doing everything we can to resolve this issue,” Raycom Media President and CEO Paul McTear said in a statement posted on the company's Web site.