Erie TV stations return to Dish Network, but what is status of WFXP dispute with DirecTV?

David Bruce, Erie Times-News
·2 min read

A contract squabble between Dish Network and Erie television broadcasters has been resolved, allowing WICU, WSEE, WFXP and the CW to be seen by those who subscribe to the satellite TV service.

However, a separate impasse continues between satellite provider DirecTV and the owners of WFXP. The Erie station hasn't been carried on DirecTV since October 2022.

Officials with Dish and Lilly Broadcasting, which owns WICU (NBC), WSEE (CBS) and WSEE-2 (CW), announced their agreement over the weekend. The channels were pulled from Dish's schedule in mid-December.

"Lilly Broadcasting is pleased to announce an agreement has been reached with DISH Network. The agreement means WICU NBC, WSEE CBS and CW will again be available on DISH effective immediately," Lilly Broadcasting said on its website.

WFXP, Erie's FOX affiliate, is owned by Mission Broadcasting and operated through a shared agreement with Nexstar. Unavailable on Dish since January 2023, WFXP also returned to Dish's schedule over the weekend.

"We are pleased to announce that DISH and Mission Broadcasting have reached a multi-year agreement and your local channel has been restored," Dish officials said on the company's website.

More: DISH Network customers without 4 Erie broadcast channels due to fee dispute. Is agreement near?

Retransmission fees dispute often sparks impasse

Impasses in negotiations over retransmission fees, the money a cable or satellite provider pays to carry local TV stations, has sometimes resulted in local channels being pulled from packages.

Providers have said station owners are demanding higher fees in recent years, while station owners have countered they only want fair compensation.

How to receive WFXP if you have DirecTV

It's not known when an agreement will be reached between DirecTV and Mission Broadcasting. DirecTV subscribers have a few options if they want to watch the Erie station:

  • Buy an antenna if you live within range of the Summit Township station. Check this website, www.rabbitears.info, to see if you are within antenna range.

  • Switch to another cable or satellite provider, or a streaming service.

Contact David Bruce at dbruce@timesnews.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ETNBruce.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie TV stations WICU, WSEE, WFXP, CW available again on Dish Network