Gannett to stop broadcasting on Dish if ad-skipping feature not removed
[h=1]Gannett to stop broadcasting on Dish if ad-skipping feature not removed[/h]
ri Oct 5, 2012 12:14am EDT
(Reuters) - Dish Network Corp said the broadcasting arm of newspaper publisher Gannett Co Inc has threatened to withdraw broadcasting on the satellite TV provider if it does not block the commercial-skipping feature on its digital video recorders or agree to pay massive penalties.
Dish's AutoHop feature on its Hopper DVR lets customers press one button to automatically skip commercials when they are watching recorded TV shows. Dish introduced its high-definition DVR called the Hopper earlier this year.
If Gannett Broadcasting lets the current broadcasting contract expire without renewal, Dish customers in 19 cities including Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Denver, Minneapolis, Cleveland, Phoenix and Sacramento would lose various ABC, CBS and NBC-affiliated stations, Dish said in a statement.
"Gannett's demands translate into more than a 300 percent rate increase, which would likely result in higher monthly fees for consumers."
Dish offered to pay Gannett market rates, including an increase of more than 200 percent above current rates, and offered to extend the transmission contract during negotiations, which Gannett has refused, the No. 2 satellite provider said.
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http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/05/us-dish-gannett-idUSBRE89403I20121005