Deal brings WGN-Channel 9 back to Dish Network for Christmas morning

Dish Network subscribers in Chicago woke up Christmas morning to a surprise not under the tree but on the TV: the return of WGN-Channel 9.

Missing from the lineup for more than three weeks, the independent channel returned just in time for its scheduled marathon of vintage holiday TV episodes from series including “Father Knows Best” and “Dennis the Menace.”

The station had disappeared during a dispute between the satellite TV provider and WGN owner Nexstar Media Group. Each company made public accusations that the other was demanding unreasonable terms to renew their expired contract.

In press releases Friday, the two companies made nice and said they reached a multi-year deal that put Nexstar’s 164 local stations, including WGN, and its WGN America network back on Dish.

The deal also makes WGN America available on Dish’s SlingTV service.

WGN’s offerings include Chicago’s top-rated morning newscast and reruns of syndicated network TV comedies including “Friends” and “Last Man Standing.”