UCI Statement Regarding DISH’s Rejection of Extension Offer and Interruption of Service

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) made the following statement
regarding DISH’s rejection of extension offer and interruption of
service: It is outrageous that DISH has rejected our offer of a two-week
contract extension to allow its customers and our viewers to continue to
have access to Univision’s highly rated networks and stations. While
DISH has routinely used blackouts against broadcasters—its 68 broadcast
blackouts since 2010 are significantly more than any other distributor
in that time — Univision expected DISH to take our negotiations and its
commitment to Hispanic consumers seriously when it told its customers
this week that it wanted to “reach a mutually beneficial deal” for
Univision’s “high quality content.”

Instead of fulfilling its promise to its customers, DISH has chosen to
devalue our programming, disingenuously offering a fraction of what it
pays our English-language peers. We stand ready to continue negotiations
and enter into a short-term extension to restore service, especially
with DISH customers missing our coverage of the Mexican Presidential
Election, which many are calling “the biggest election in Mexican
history.” DISH should do right by its Spanish-speaking audiences, agree
to restore service, and negotiate a good faith agreement.

Contacts

Univision Communications Inc.
Bobby Amirshahi, 646-560-4902
bamirshahi@univision.net