FSN-Dish Dispute Centers Around Added Games For Blues, Stars

By John Ourand, Staff Writer

FSN has been involved in a carriage battle with Dish Network in St. Louis and Dallas since the beginning of the NHL season, and the dispute shows no signs of letting up. FSN VP/PR Chris Bellitti said, "Unfortunately, we do not expect to have a deal with Dish any time soon. FSN has reached agreements with all of our other major distributors, but Dish has declined to negotiate with us." The dispute centers on games FS Midwest and FS Southwest picked up this season from local broadcasters. FS Midwest added 34 Blues games this season for a total of 74, and FS Southwest added 20 Stars games for a total of 61. FSN is charging distributors a surcharge for the added games, which Dish Network is refusing to pay. FSN says other local distributors have agreed to add the games, such as Charter, DirecTV and AT&T. Dish Network will carry 40 Blues games and 41 Stars games. It will received alternate FSN programming in place of the added games.