I agree that Tribune and Dish are probably far apart in negotiations and are probably not talking very much to each other at this point and it looks like it won't be resolved in a few weeks, even. However, at some point pretty soon, I do believe it will be Tribune who will have to blink because they are losing ad revenue since the channels were prevented from re-transmission to today: they been losing money and are still losing quite a bit of money right now. Dish's consequences may not be for at lest a quarter or two and far less dire, so they can outlast Tribune. The only big money maker for Tribune is KTLA (and that means of ALL of Tribune's holding; KTLA is their goose constantly laying golden eggs that makes the entire company look good on the financials) and it must be frustrating for Tribune because they have to report the losses (reduced revenue) in the next quarter, and that is always embarrassing.
FWIW, I've talked to several subscribers of Dish I know here in Los Angeles about the loss of KTLA from their Dish line-up, and everyone has said that they just don't watch the channel that much--IF EVER. The only program some people I've asked do watch with some regularity is the KTLA Morning News, which has always been a very strong program and the best of all local morning news shows, and they do miss it somewhat, but they just watch one of the other local channels for morning news instead of KTLA. As to all the other KTLA and CW programming: they absolutely either never watch or hardly so. I expected more people to be upset, but they are not, but I'm sure there are those who are angry about the loss, just not those I've talked to. Yeah, they would like to have it back as it is another alternative in local and news programming, but they just aren't upset by its loss. Dish knows how many of us do watch the Tribune channels and it probably is not as many as we might think, even the Tribune channels that are CBS or other big net affiliate, most likely because they are in mid to smaller markets. Tribune does not have the leverage the big 4 broadcast networks have because the big 4 own their own local stations in the biggest markets in the country, so when they won't allow re-transmission it is a lot more difficult on Dish than losing all Tribune channels.
Oh, well, I really can live without KTLA, but it would be nice to have as an alternative to local news, although I think KTLA is the WORST local news in Los Angeles with their paid advertisements presented as if they were legit news reports/stories and too many young, fresh off the boat from smaller markets reporters who just aren't up to par with the more experienced and far higher paid ones here. I think KTLA is still the station that pays its reporters the least of any channel in Los Angeles--still 6 figure but a lot less by at least $100,000. OK, I give KTLA credit for good coverage--along with just about all the other local channels who all do great coverage, too--during one of our many LA disasters, but that's it. I should add that I still get KTLA OTA with the Hopper WS and on my TiVo, but IF I do choose to watch KTLA it is only for the KTLA morning news--only on occasion--and for local news as an addition to other LA local news coverage, but that is it!
