GRANT COUNTY – The Dish Network abruptly pulled the a CBS affiliate from Boise and an ABC affliliate from Portland from the programming lineup this week.

Viewers who tuned in to KBCI or KATU found a videotaped message from the company instead of the regular shows.

DISH blamed unfair demands from Fisher Communications Inc. for a failure to reach a new contract for airing the local affiliates. The previous contract expired Dec. 17.

Eric Sahl, DISH senior vice president of programming, said Fisher was demanding an 82 percent rate increase from DISH for carrying the programming.

“Fisher Communications’ demands have forced us to remove this channel from our local programming line-up, forcing this disruption to our customers,” said Sahl. “We continue to fight for our subscribers by remaining the leader in value and in order to do this, we need fair contracts and competitive pricing for our customers. This is why we refuse Fisher Communications’ request for increased pricing and unreasonable terms.”

The company’s message also urged viewers to contact the local stations and express their views or to complain to major advertisers who use those channels.

The decisions affect viewers well beyond Grant County, going throughout the viewing territory of the Portland and Boise stations.

Seattle-based Fisher Communications operates 13 full-power and eight low-power TV stations and eight radio stations in the Northwest, ranging from Seattle to Roseburg and east to Idaho Falls.

The suspension affects only DISH customers and not the lineup for Direct TV or cable customers.