Dish Network customers around Memphis are staring down the possibility of losing live access to Action News 5 as soon as Tuesday, March 10, at 6 p.m., the station warned Sunday. If WMC-TV and Dish do not hammer out a new deal by that deadline, the satellite provider is set to pull the station from its lineup, cutting off local newscasts and NBC programming for Dish subscribers who rely on the service.
According to Action News 5, Dish set the March 10 cutoff, and the station is urging viewers to let the company know how they feel by calling 1-800-333-3474. The station also points out that its newscasts will still be available over the air and through its free streaming apps on Android, Roku, Fire, and Apple TV, even if Dish drops the channel.
What Is At Stake For Dish Customers
Carriage talks between broadcasters and TV providers are rarely cozy, and they often spill into public view when a contract expires. Negotiations over retransmission fees and other terms can stall, and that can mean viewers suddenly lose access to local news, weather alerts, and live sports while the two sides argue over the bill.
Industry reporting on earlier standoffs, including high-profile fights that removed large station groups from Dish and competing providers, shows how quickly those blackouts can hit and how long they sometimes drag on. Coverage by TVTechnology outlines several of those big run-ins.
How To Keep Watching Action News 5
If Dish follows through and removes Action News 5 from its Memphis lineup, the station is already pushing a backup plan for viewers who want to stick with its coverage.
According to Action News 5, Dish customers could:
- Watch with an over-the-air antenna
- Use the station’s free streaming apps on Android, Roku, Fire, and Apple TV
- Subscribe to another distributor, including DIRECTV, local cable providers, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV or fubo
The station says its newscasts will remain available on those platforms if a Dish blackout happens.
Retransmission Consent: What It Means
Under federal law, local stations and multichannel video programming distributors such as Dish negotiate what is known as retransmission consent. When a station chooses retransmission consent, it is effectively saying, “If you want to carry our signal, we need a deal.” Those agreements can include cash payments and other terms.
The Federal Communications Commission explains that if the two sides do not reach an agreement, the TV provider is legally barred from retransmitting the station’s signal at all, which is why channels can vanish the moment a previous contract expires. The agency lays out the legal framework in a public report by the FCC.
Dish customers who want to weigh in can call Dish customer service at 1-800-333-3474, a number the company lists on its contact page. For station-side questions, WMC’s main reception line is (901) 726-0555, as shown in public business directories. This story will be updated as the negotiations develop and if either side releases new statements.
