For the second time in two months, WLWT-TV and parent Heart Television have been removed from a national satellite TV service.
Channel 5 announced early Friday it was dropped at midnight by DISH Network after an impasse in renewing a transmission consent agreement.
The announcement came one day after Channel 5 said it was awarded the "certified most accurate forecast" title in Cincinnati from WeatheRate for a sixth consecutive year.
At the start of the year, DirecTV customers went eight days without Channel 5, after Hearst and DirecTV reached an impasse on Dec. 31.
"While we had hoped to conclude our negotiations before the extended March 3rd deadline, DISH has continued to insist on including material terms that are less favorable than our current agreement," said Branden Frantz, WLWT president and general manager, in a media statement.
"DISH is seeking the right to carry our stations at below market rates, which is neither fair nor reasonable," he said.
Frantz reminded viewers that they can watch Channel 5 for free over-the-air with an antenna, and on other satellite or cable services. Here's the release.
WeatheRate – the independent weather research company in Phoenix – has given its certification to Channel 5 since 2012. From 2005-12, WCPO-TV received the designation.
Stations pay WeatheRate to promote the "most accurate" seal -- similar to companies paying to use the JD Power and Associates credit – which other stations in town have pointed out to me in the past.
Channel 5 boss Frantz noted in the station's WeatheRate release that in Butler and Warren counties, "WLWT not only finished ahead of every Cincinnati station, but also every Dayton TV station in accuracy rating."
No Dayton station has the "most accurate" certification by WeatheRate, according to the WeatheRate website.
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