KIMA, DISH Network in contract squabble

Yakima residents watching television on DISH Network have lost access to the local CBS affiliate.

The DISH Network dropped KIMA-TV along with several other networks owned by Fisher Broadcasting at 11 p.m. Wednesday after the two parties failed to agree on a new contract.

The dispute is over how much DISH Network should pay to access the network signal.

“Despite Fisher’s good-faith efforts to negotiate a new agreement, we were unable to reach acceptable terms to ensure that DISH provides us fair compensation for the value they receive from broadcasting our stations, which have leading positions in their markets and consistently deliver highly viewed news and programming,” Rob Dunlop, Fisher’s senior vice president of operations, said in a statement released Thursday.

DISH Network, however, contends the fees sought by Fisher Broadcasting are unreasonable.

“Fisher has asked for over an 80 percent increase (in fees) from our customers, who should not be required to ‘bail out’ Fisher management for underperforming stations,” the company said in a statement Thursday.

KIMA-TV can still be accessed on free, over-the-air reception, on rival satellite provider DIRECTV, or on cable.

• Mai Hoang can be reached at 577-7685 or mhoang@yakimaherald.com.