Customers of the Dish Network in southern Maine may lose WGME-TV (Channel 13) unless the station’s owner can reach a new contract agreement with the satellite television service this week.

Sinclair Broadcast Group, which owns Portland’s CBS affiliate, told viewers on WGME’s website that its agreement with the Dish Network will expire Wednesday.

The statement says Sinclair Broadcast Group does not expect Dish Network to continue carrying any of its stations after the agreement expires. It does not say how many viewers could be affected, and efforts to reach executives at both companies Monday night were unsuccessful.

“Although Dish and Sinclair have been negotiating for quite some time in an effort to reach a new agreement, at this time it does not appear that these efforts will be successful,” the statement reads.

Sinclair suggests, among other options, that Dish Network subscribers contact their local cable provider or DirecTV to continue receiving Channel 13.

It also asks viewers to contact Dish Network at (888) 926-5457 to say they want to continue getting Channel 13.

In a list of frequently asked questions, Sinclair says the disagreement isn’t just over money and that it’s possible Dish Network will never again carry Sinclair stations.


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