The Game Show Network Just Got Pulled From Dish Despite Popularity

For people hooked into Dish Network, otherwise simply known as Dish, their lineup of networks to choose from just got a bit shorter with the removal of the Game Show Network. As its name suggests, this network is dedicated to competitive shows like Deal or No Deal, Match Game, Family Feud, and more.

What’s especially surprising about this move is that the channel had reportedly been enjoying increased viewership recently. So, what prompted this removal? Apparently, it is the end result of months-long negotiations between the networkand Dish, though their respective statements offer different viewpoints on the situation. Here’s what happened to the game show channel for Dish users.

The Game Show Network is leaving Dish

Both Dish and GSN have issued statements announcing the channel’s removal from Dish’s lineup. The network announced, “@dish and @Sling cancelled Game Show Network!  At Game Show Network we are working hard to make Game Show Network available to you again,” and urged users to “Contact DISH to them know how you feel.” That means no single channel for The $100,000 Pyramid, currently overseen by Michael Strahan, or Master Minds, hosted by Brooke Burns and featuring Ken Jennings.

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Over on Dish’s account, they said this week, “Our contract has expired with Game Show Network. Our goal and priority is to reach a fair agreement to bring this channel back as quickly as possible.” It directed users to share their feedback at Dish Promise and call GSN to “make your voice heard.”

What is happening behind the scenes that cost the Game Show Network?

“There is a lot of finger pointing,” the network said in a Twitter response, as both Dish users and game show fans comment on both pages, trying to find out who bears the brunt of the responsibility for this change. Dish claims that they reached an agreement that would have kept the channel on Dish with minimal disruptions, but claims the channel “backpedaled” on the deal. The network, in contrast, said in a statement, “Game Show Network tried to get a deal done with DISH, but after eight months of negotiations we could not agree to their demands.”

The statement further claims, “Most recently, DISH’s removal of channels has been focused on local retransmission or regional sports networks (Tegna, Sinclair, Block Communications, AT&T Sportsnet, Root Sportsnet, NBC Regional Sports Networks, among others.) DISH is choosing to do this to Game Show Network, an independent network, that costs virtually nothing compared to local retransmission or sports networks.” Nielsen ratings reported by variety say the network brought in 432,000 primetime viewers, an increase of about 6% from 2019.

Did you watch programs on GSN?

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