Gray Media TV Blackout Ends for Iowa Viewers

Back in early March, a dispute between DISH Network and Gray Media resulted in four stations in four Iowa markets have being removed from the service. This made it impossible for DISH subscribers in Iowa to watch a major local affiliate in several markets, including Cedar Rapids and the Quad Cities.

It wasn't a problem exclusive to Iowans either. The blackout led to 226 local channels in 113 markets across the United States being removed from DISH's services. However, as of this week, the blackout has ended after 51 days, with DISH and Gray Media coming to some kind of agreement.

READ MORE: Archaic MLB Blackouts are Ruining Baseball for Iowa Fans

About the Blackout:

The following Iowa stations were removed from DISH Network during the blackout:

• Cedar Rapids/Iowa City: KCRG (ABC)
• Quad Cities: KWQC (NBC)
• Ottumwa: KYOU (FOX/NBC/CW)
• Sioux City:  KTIV (NBC/CW)

Gray Media is the nation's largest owner of "top-rated local television stations and digital assets," which serve 113 full-power TV markets. In March, DISH Network issued a statement regarding the blackout:

Following Gray Media's decision to black out its local stations from the DISH TV lineup, 226 channels in 113 markets are currently unavailable to DISH customers. Gray Media chose to disconnect these stations — which provide critical local news, sports, and weather — after DISH refused to accept unreasonable rate increases that would have raised monthly bills for consumers - DISH Network's statement per The Des Moines Register

Specific details of the agreement Gray Media and DISH reached were not readily available, which is common for contracts of this nature.

Growing up with DirecTV, I'm used to these types of disputes. Typically, there's little for the consumer other than frustration, as these blackouts tend to effect local channels, which obviously carry local news, leaving those with network TV without much in the way of alternatives. As is the case with these situations, both sides got caught up in blaming one another for the blackout, and the loser, per usual, was the consumer.

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At the time, DISH accused Gray Media of using its market dominance to demand "retransmission consent fee hikes" that they deem antithetical to declining cable viewership and the ubiquity of streaming services. Now, the sides appear to have mended fences.

Read more about the Gray Media and DISH Network blackout coming to an end on The Des Moines Register's website.