EchoStar Says Dish Network May Lose Turner Channels

[Scott Greczkowski]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - EchoStar Communications Corp. Chief Executive Officer Charles Ergen warned viewers of its Dish Network satellite TV service that they may soon take CNN, Cartoon Network, CNN Headline News, and Turner Classic Movies off the air in a fee dispute Turner Broadcasting System.

EchoStar's broadcast agreement with Turner, a unit of Time Warner Inc. expired at the end of 2003 and was renewed on a multi-month basis while the parties continue talks.

In a signal that the talks haven't gone particularly well, Charles Ergen took to the airwaves Monday night in one of his "Charlie's Chats" to explain the impasse to viewers and the reason they might lose CNN in the midst of renewed hostilities in Iraq.

An EchoStar spokesman said the company is seeking to wean the networks off a "satellite premium" the company had to pay in the past when the service was much smaller.

To read the rest see http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=industryNews&storyID=4816508&section=news

 

[Neutron]

Another reason I switched to Directv. None of this "We're dropping channels" crap. The viacom thing did it for our switch.

 

[NightRyder]

Another reason I switched to Directv. None of this "We're dropping channels" crap. The viacom thing did it for our switch.

With Rupert in charge things will be different. Past history is no guarantee of future events. DTV won't be allowed to suck $ from this parent like they did from GM.

NightRyder