By Jordan Muhlestein
Media giants Viacom Inc. and EchoStar/DISH Network have pulled 9 million television viewers into their argument about the price of broadcasting certain channels, including CBS, MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon.
KUTV, Salt Lake City''s CBS affiliate broadcast on channel 2, received thousands of calls on Tuesday -- so many calls that several workers were answering the phones full-time.
The Viacom-owned channels disappeared from DISH Network on Tuesday, leaving viewers in the area with a message to call KUTV instead of the programming on some of the most popular channels.
Kent Crawford, director of sales for KUTV, said workers at the station felt it was unfair for DISH Network to refer questions to KUTV.
'This is an issue that DISH Network and Viacom need to work out by themselves,' Crawford said.
Public statements from both companies blame the other for the blackout.
DISH Network''s Web site referred questions to Viacom''s corporate headquarters, networks and corporately owned CBS affiliates, including KUTV. Only an e-mail address is listed for questions directed to DISH Network''s own company.
'Viacom will be making the channels go dark by not granting DISH Network permission to broadcast their channels,' said a statement on the DISH Network Web site.
DISH Network pulled the programming because Viacom demands rate increases nearly four times the rate of inflation, according to a statement on the DISH Network Web site.
But Viacom issued a statement saying DISH Network recently raised viewer fees by $3 and DISH Network was unwilling to pay six cents per month per subscriber to continue distribution of Viacom''s channels.
Mark Rosenthal, president and chief operating officer of MTV Networks, said in written statement, 'The facts make it clear that EchoStar/DISH Network''s decision to pull the plug on our channels shows they care a lot more about lining their own pockets than about what matters to their subscribers.'
A DISH Network customer service representative said company executives are willing to work around the clock and on weekends to resolve the issue.
Viacom Inc. also owns the rights to the broadcast of the upcoming NCAA Men''s Basketball Tournament.