DISH Urges TEGNA to Extend Contract; Potential TEGNA Blackout Would Impact Millions

• TEGNA threatens ahead of contract expiration to blackout 51 stations
  in 39 markets nationally
• DISH offers to extend existing local channel contract, with
  retroactive “true-up” for new rates, which would keep local channels
  up for the benefit of consumers while negotiations continue

ENGLEWOOD, Colo.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–DISH Network L.L.C., a wholly-owned subsidiary of DISH Network
Corporation (NASDAQ:DISH), issued the following statement in reaction to
TEGNA Inc.’s threat to block DISH customers’ access to 51 local channels
in 39 markets nationwide.

“Only TEGNA can choose to black out its channels. DISH is actively
working to reach a deal before the contract expires,” said Warren
Schlichting, DISH senior vice president of Programming. “We have offered
a contract extension to TEGNA, including a retroactive “true up” when
new rates are agreed upon, to keep the channels available to customers
in the event that we are unable to reach a deal by the deadline.”

The “true-up” would ensure that TEGNA was made whole at the new rates
for the period of any contract extension. TEGNA has not accepted that
offer. The contract is set to expire Sept. 30.

“Since we offered to retroactively true them up when new rates were
agreed upon, TEGNA has nothing to lose and consumers have everything to
gain from an extension of our existing contract that would allow
negotiations to continue,” added Schlichting. “Instead, TEGNA has not
accepted our offer and has chosen to use consumers to gain leverage for
the economic benefit of TEGNA, while potentially causing substantial
harm and disruption to the lives of those very same consumers who
ultimately will bear the brunt of the unfair price increases sought by
TEGNA.”

DISH and TEGNA have been making steady progress in their recent
negotiations, and DISH was hopeful that a mutual agreement would be
reached to renew carriage of the TEGNA local stations in due course.

“DISH has successfully negotiated agreements representing hundreds of
stations in recent months that benefit all parties, including our
viewers,” said Schlichting. “We are unsure why TEGNA decided to involve
customers in the contract negotiation process at a point when there is
still time for the two parties to reach a mutually beneficial deal.”

For a list of affected stations, visit https://dishnetwork.newshq.businesswire.com/document-library/tegna-station-list.

About DISH

DISH Network Corp. (NASDAQ:DISH), through its subsidiaries, provides
approximately 13.932 million pay-TV subscribers, as of June 30, 2015,
with the highest-quality programming and technology with the most
choices at the best value. Subscribers enjoy a high definition line-up
with more than 200 national HD channels, the most international
channels, and award-winning HD and DVR technology. DISH Network
Corporation is a Fortune 250 company. Visit www.dish.com.

Contacts

DISH Network L.L.C.
Courtney Culpepper, 720-514-5351
news@dish.com
@DISHNews