Why is a popular local TV station off the air for some Lexington viewers?
A contract dispute has left some Lexington TV viewers wondering, “Where’s WKYT?”
The CBS affiliate, channel 27 in Fayette County, was taken off the air recently by DISH Network after negotiations broke down between DISH and Gray Media, which owns WKYT.
According to the station, the blackout has affected 226 local stations across 113 markets, including WYMT in Hazard, WBKO on Bowling Green and WAVE in Louisville.
WKYT did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In a news release, Gray Media blamed the blackout on an “unprecedented” demand in a new agreement that included a “materially adverse provision,” and the company accused DISH of “bad faith conduct” for removing the local stations, as well as publicizing “false and defamatory allegations.”
DISH said Gray Media blacked out its own local stations “after DISH refused to accept unreasonable rate increases that would have raised monthly bills for consumers,” in a news release.
How to watch WKYT during black out
You can still see most local stations for free with an antenna that will pick up an over-the-air signal.
Also, WKYT+ is a free streaming app available on Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV that shows WKYT’s programming, as well as CBS shows.
WKYT is also available on cable and streaming services.
This isn’t the first time local stations have been blacked on DISH. During previous recent contract disputes, a wide variety of stations were taken off the air.
