The satellite company's contract with Young Broadcasting, which owns WRIC, expired on Wednesday.
A statement from Young Broadcasting on the WRIC Web site says that because Dish charges its subscribers a fee to receive the Richmond ABC affiliate, Young Broadcasting believes that Dish should pay a portion of those fees to Young -- about a penny a day per subscriber.
A Dish Network statement counters that, "Young Broadcasting, Inc. is demanding unreasonable contract terms and an excessive rate increase for continued carriage on Dish Network -- an increase that Dish Network is unwilling to pass on to customers."
The WRIC Web site says Dish customers can receive its programming through free over-the-air reception, DirecTV or a local cable company.
The fee dispute affects nine other Young Broadcasting stations, including stations in San Francisco and Nashville, Tenn.
Attempts to reach WRIC management were unsuccessful.
WRIC said it offered a short extension of the contract to allow more time to reach a new agreement with Dish, but it was not accepted.
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