Taking advantage of new federal regulations, Dish Network says it will file a complaint against Comcast Corp., accusing the Philadelphia cable giant of withholding the regional sports network that carries the Phillies, Flyers and Sixers.
Talks between Dish Network, the nation's No. 2 satellite-TV provider, and Comcast have been taking place over the last several weeks and Dish's statement seemed timed to place political pressure on the Philadelphia cable giant to reach a deal with it.
"Dish Network has requested access to deliver Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia to our customers; however Comcast has refused to enter into good-faith discussions. Comcast's refusal clearly demonstrates a disturbing pattern of discriminatory behavior," Dish Network said in an e-mailed statement today.
Dish did not say today when it would file the complaint.
Comcast did not have an immediate comment but had said earlier this year it wouldn't fight the Federal Communications Commission on the new regulations.
Comcast is now seeking approval for its $30 billion merger with NBC Universal Inc. from the same agency, the FCC, that will referee the dispute over the sports programming between Comcast and Dish.
The FCC enacted new regulations earlier this year to close the so-called terrestrial loophole that allowed Comcast to withhold the Comcast-owned regional sports network from DirecTV and Dish Network. Industry experts say that Comcast has an unusually high penetration rate for its cable-TV service in the Philadelphia area because of its stranglehold on regional sports programming.