WABI-TV5 and The CW are returning to the Dish Network

Community Broadcasting Service - licensee of Bangor, Maine CBS affiliate WABI-TV and CW affiliate WABI-DT2 - and satellite television service DISH Network have come to an agreement for retransmission of the station’s signal to DISH subscribers.  

Community Broadcasting Service General Manager Mike Young made the announcement earlier today.

“We are pleased announce that WABI-TV5 and The CW are returning to the DISH line-up,” Young said. “Each station will continue to be available to all communities served under the prior agreement, and those who receive The CW will soon enjoy the added enhancement of high definition delivery of the station’s programming.”

WABI-DT2 has broadcast in high definition since June 2012.  The majority of local cable subscribers currently receive the station in HD. DISH plans to upgrade The CW to high definition within the next three months.

Young explained that WABI’s CBS-affiliated station has long established status under FCC rules that permit cable and satellite carriage outside the station’s Nielsen DMA (Designated Market Area).   WABI-DT2 does not currently qualify for the same status.

WABI-TV (CBS) will return to channel 5 within the Bangor DMA. DISH subscribers in Franklin, Kennebec, Knox, and Oxford counties will find the station on channel 6265.   WABI-DT2 (CW) will return to channel 19 within the Bangor DMA only.

DISH representatives have advised WABI that the stations’ signals are expected to return to the system later today.

“We want to thank our viewers, our advertisers, and our community partners for their patience and understanding as we worked through the process of negotiation,” Young concluded.