NFL Network To Black Out "TNF" For Dish/Sling Subscribers

NFL Network will black out tonight’s Rams-Seahawks game to Dish Network and Sling TV subscribers if the satellite distributor does not have a carriage agreement with Fox by kickoff, according to sources. Dish dropped Fox’ owned-and-operated channels last week, along with other Fox channels like FS1 and FS2. Dish subscribers could watch last week’s “TNF” game on NFL Network, but the league is taking away that option this week to increase leverage and get the two sides to reach a deal. Fox pays the NFL an annual average of $660M to carry “TNF,” and both the league and Fox want to protect that investment. While both sides are talking, sources said that they remain far apart and sounded skeptical that an agreement is near.

Dish subscribers still will be able to view tonight’s game through streams on Amazon and Twitch. Subscribers in markets where Fox does not own the local Fox affiliate will see the game as usual.