DISH Network Pulls KCRG Off Service Amid Contract Dispute

Gray Media says DISH has rejected all proposals to restore the local station's programming.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 9:06pm

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a stack of sleek, polished satellite TV receivers and remote controls arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic background, conceptually representing the abstract corporate strategy and market dynamics behind carriage disputes between TV providers and local broadcasters.The ongoing carriage dispute between DISH Network and local broadcaster KCRG exposes the complex corporate negotiations behind TV channel lineups.Cedar Rapids Today

DISH Network has removed KCRG, a television station owned by Gray Media, from its service for over a month. Gray Media claims it has given DISH multiple extensions during major events, but DISH has become unwilling to reach an agreement. DISH has a history of pulling channels from its lineup, having removed over 1,000 channels in recent years.

Why it matters

This dispute highlights the ongoing tensions between television providers and local stations over carriage agreements and programming rights. It could leave DISH customers in the Cedar Rapids area without access to KCRG's news, weather, and other local content.

The details

Gray Media says it has made numerous attempts to resolve the dispute with DISH, but the satellite provider has rejected all proposals and added more demands to its terms. DISH has a track record of removing channels from its service during contract disputes.

  • DISH Network pulled KCRG and other Gray Media stations from its service over a month ago.
  • Gray Media gave DISH extensions to keep KCRG on its service during severe weather, the NFL playoffs, the Super Bowl, and the Winter Olympics.
  • After those major events passed, DISH became unwilling to reach an agreement with Gray Media.

The players

DISH Network

A major satellite television provider that has removed KCRG and other Gray Media stations from its service amid a contract dispute.

Gray Media

The parent company of KCRG, a television station in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that has been pulled from DISH Network's service.

Hilton Howell

The chairman and CEO of Gray Media, who has criticized DISH's actions and demands in the dispute.

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What they’re saying

“Disputes like this one with DISH are extremely rare for Gray. Until this year, we had never had a blackout with a satellite provider, and our last large-scale dispute with a cable operator occurred over a decade ago.”

— Hilton Howell, Chairman and CEO of Gray Media

“In response to each of our many attempts to resolve this matter, DISH responds by rejecting all proposals, refusing to honor the terms that it earlier had accepted, and adding more outrageous terms to its demands.”

— Hilton Howell, Chairman and CEO of Gray Media

What’s next

KCRG remains available on other subscription television services, and DISH customers can contact the company to demand that KCRG be restored to its lineup.

The takeaway

This dispute highlights the ongoing tensions between television providers and local stations over carriage agreements, which can leave customers without access to important local content. It also underscores DISH's history of removing channels from its service during contract disputes.