EchoStar, i.e. Dish Network warns it may drop CNN, other Turner channels in contract dispute...

[Analog]

04-12) 18:39 PDT DENVER (AP) --

EchoStar Communications warned Monday it could drop programming from its DISH satellite network because of a contract dispute, this time over CNN, TBS, Cartoon Network and Headline News.

The dispute comes just over a month after EchoStar and Viacom Inc. settled a similar conflict.

EchoStar, with 9 million subscribers nationwide, said its contract with Turner Broadcasting System expired Dec. 31. The companies agreed to an extension that has kept Turner programming on the DISH network, but EchoStar spokesman Steve Caulk on Monday refused to say when that extension expires.

"If and when the (extension) agreement expires, we would then have to drop the channels in question," Caulk said. He said Turner was seeking "unreasonable rate increases."

A spokeswoman for Atlanta-based Turner said negotiations are under way and the company hopes an agreement can be reached. Turner Broadcasting is part of Time Warner Inc.

On March 9, Englewood, Colo.-based EchoStar pulled the plug on Viacom programming in a dispute over fees, leaving DISH viewers nationwide without MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, BET, Nickelodeon and other Viacom channels.

About 2 million DISH subscribers also lost programming from CBS, which is owned by Viacom.

The two sides quickly reached a deal, restoring Viacom programming to DISH early on March 11.

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[girlgeek]

Go, Echostar!! I'm paying enough, thank you.

 

[Shelly21]

It won't last long like last time..... As long as I still get my Comedy Central.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: girlgeek
Go, Echostar!! I'm paying enough, thank you.

No offence but it's the channel owners that are trying to get Echostar by the nuts.

If they have to pay more it's only fair we do.

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[rudder]

Dish better not drop TBS, how else will I be able to watch back to the future 9 times a week???

 

[arod]

I personally am glad somebody is fighting back on the constant rate increases.... People know dish will fight back after the viacom thing and I expect them to have a few days of outages again if Turner doesnt cave.

 

[BAMAVOO]

If they drop cartoon network, I drop them. Could care less about the ignorant CNN. TBS is good for Braves games and nothing else. If they drop my kid's favorite channel, they get the axe!

 

[Shockwave]

Originally posted by: arod
I personally am glad somebody is fighting back on the constant rate increases.... People know dish will fight back after the viacom thing and I expect them to have a few days of outages again if Turner doesnt cave.

I agree 100%. FInally it seems a company (inadvertantly) is concerned about what its customers pay. I dont think I'll EVER drop them now, just to support them. Most companies would say SURE to the price hike, then just pass it right on.