first alert 4 is still at the center of a blackout that has now lasted for more than a month, after DISH Network pulled WILX-TV 10 and other Gray Media stations off its service. In Lansing, Mich., the dispute leaves DISH customers without WILX-TV 10, while the station remains available on other subscription television services and over an antenna. The conflict intensified after Gray gave DISH multiple extensions during severe weather and major events, including the NFL playoffs, the Super Bowl, and the Winter Olympics.
What the blackout means now
Gray Media says DISH became unwilling to reach an agreement once those major events passed. The company says DISH rejected proposals, refused to honor terms it had earlier accepted, and added more terms to its demands.
That has kept first alert 4 in a familiar position: off one major pay-TV service while remaining available through other options. For viewers who rely on WILX-TV 10 for NBC shows and local news, the gap is immediate and practical.
Gray Media’s push to restore service
Hilton Howell, chairman and CEO of Gray Media, said disputes of this kind are uncommon for the company. “Until this year, we had never had a blackout with a satellite provider, and our last large-scale dispute with a cable operator occurred over a decade ago, ” Howell said. He added that DISH has responded to Gray’s attempts to resolve the matter by “rejecting all proposals” and “adding more outrageous terms to its demands. ”
Gray also says DISH has a history of removing programming from its lineup, with more than 1, 000 channels pulled over the last few years. first alert 4 remains part of the larger fight over carriage, pricing, and access for local viewers.
Why viewers are being told to act
Gray Media is urging DISH customers to contact the company and push for a return of WILX-TV 10 to the lineup. The station says viewers can also keep watching through an antenna or other subscription television services.
For now, the timing of any resolution remains unclear. first alert 4 will stay a key marker for viewers watching whether the two sides move back toward an agreement, or whether the blackout stretches further.
