Much of the consternation over the absence of regional sports channels from carriers has focused on streaming options. One by one, platforms like Sling, YouTube TV and Hulu have dropped Sinclair-owned RSNs in the last couple of years, impacting local viewers in many markets.
One sliver of light that emerged in recent months, though, had to do with a larger platform: Dish Network, which dropped the RSNs in July 2019, was in negotiations with Sinclair and there was hope that a new deal might include the re-emergence of those channels.
Instead, a deal was reached between the two sides this week that did not include those regional channels — a signal that those channels might not ever return to Dish.