Fox News Sues Echostar

[Scott Greczkowski]

Just got this in my email box... Very interesting...

Fox News sued EchoStar Communications Corp (DISH.O: Quote, Profile, Research) on Monday for about $50 million, saying the satellite television operator did not offer the channel in its "most widely distributed package."
Fox News Network LLC said EchoStar Satellite LLC breached a 1998 contract that required it to offer the news channel as part of its most widely distributed package, according to a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan.

It said EchoStar had distributed Fox News this year on its second most widely distributed package, a 200-channel package known as "America's Top 200."

"Thus, since or about January 2007, EchoStar has failed to comply with the distribution requirement," Fox News said

 

[jessshaun]

...interesting....

I've been a subscriber for almost 3 years now, and I don't EVER remember Fox News being in AT60 (now known as AT100). Hmm.... I'll have to watch this one.

 

[rad]

I wonder how much E* pays in lawyer fees every year?

 

[stone phillips420]

i think it as top 60 when the packages were at60, 120, and 180

 

[dlsnyder]

Maybe Dish could wiggle out of it by saying that they have more subscribers to the AT200 pack than any other, making it their most widely distributed.

 

[ptech]

I wonder how much E* pays in lawyer fees every year?

That made me laugh after a long hard day, thanks.

 

[rad]

Maybe the 1/07 date is the start of a new contract when the move to AT100 was supposed to happen but didn't???

 

[jcrandall]

$50 million - time for another price increase

One would think this should have been discussed/resolved long ago, no way the two haven't talked about this since 1998. Something else is going on here.

 

[csschrot]

Why do they assume the cheapest package is the most popular? I would say that from my installs the top 200 is the most popular.

Shawn

 

[stone phillips420]

Why do they assume the cheapest package is the most popular? I would say that from my installs the top 200 is the most popular.

Shawn

well if majority of news channels are on base pack fox should be too.
not an installer but id say most of america is still only willing to spend 30-40 dollars on their tv needs each month

 

[Zero327]

I wonder how much E* pays in lawyer fees every year?

Ever wonder what the DVR fees pay for?

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Looks like this is true, here is another story about it.

Fox News sues EchoStar for contract breach | Entertainment | Industry | Reuters

 

[skyviewmark]

I honestly can't remember Fox News ever being in anything but the 2nd tier package. Although it is being offered in the Family Pack, which is their cheapest package.

 

[webbydude]

Maybe Dish could wiggle out of it by saying that they have more subscribers to the AT200 pack than any other, making it their most widely distributed.

I'm going to have to agree with that. In most cases, I tend to see AT200 (formerly 120) as the most popular choice for new subs.

 

[johnwadams]

Why do they assume the cheapest package is the most popular? I would say that from my installs the top 200 is the most popular.

Shawn

I was going to bump up to the Top 200 until they moved GAC (Great American Country) to the 3rd level.
Since the system is at my lake cabin, I need some reason to go beyond the cheapest package.

John

 

[fhsucade07]

I wonder how much E* pays in lawyer fees every year?

It's been a rough year - 18 months for DISH. I'd love to just have a fraction of the lawyer fees they've paid in this time period. I'll say this much: I'd be without a mortgage.

 

[HokieEngineer]

According to the EKB, Foxnews was in the Top100 package as of April 2001.. At the time the lowest package was the Top50.


Dish Channel List Archive April 2001

 

[BFG]

yes fox news has always been in the second tier and that is dish's most widely distributed package. so dish is fine, fox is nuts

 

[KE4EST]

I think if memory serves right it got put in the 2nd tier when they went to t60,t120 and t180 in 2003. It has always been the Family Pack since it was offered.

 

[BoisePaul]

This will be a fun one to watch Charlie try to wiggle himself out of. Somehow I don't think the standard "They sued us, let's buy them" approach that everyone's been calling for with the TIVO case will work for this one. It says it was a 1998 contract - strange that it's taken almost 10 years for a suit to be filed. I wonder if Rupert wanted to wait until he no longer had D* before filing a suit against E* - I suppose that could have caused complications.