RSSEchoStar Settles with Network Affiliates
By Nate Mook | Published August 28, 2006, 1:19 PM
In response to a U.S. Supreme Court decision to reject an emergency stay of an injunction that would prevent it from rebroadcasting local TV channels to rural areas, EchoStar has agreed to pay $100 million to a group of network affiliates. Fox, however, has refused to accept the deal.
Both DISH Network, which is owned by EchoStar, and DirecTV offer the major networks from large market stations to subscribers who cannot receive them over-the-air. But networks said that both companies are providing the service to those who can receive the channels via broadcast, which is a violation of copyright.
Under the terms of the settlement, DISH will be allowed to continue broadcasting channels run by ABC, NBC and CBS affiliate groups to all subscribers. The company had already reached deals with the major networks themselves.
EchoStar also said it will expand the number of markets where it offers local channels to 175 from 165 currently. The news means DISH will be able to better compete with cable television operators, but there is still a major kink in the company's plans: Fox.
News Corp., the parent of DISH rival DirecTV, also owns Fox. The network has refused to settle with EchoStar and plans to continue its court battle with the company. 25 stations are involved in that litigation, and EchoStar could be forced to pull all Fox channels from its local lineups.
EchoStar added that it could end up taking its case to Congress and pushing for legislation on the matter.
Most people who live near what's called a Tranlator Service (an over the air signal that's rebroadcast on UHF) don't have any access to UHF antennas anymore as Satellite and Cable TV have made those UHF antennas nearly non-existant or impossible to buy, Much less have anyone that knows how to set one up anymore as those places now only sell satellite systems or just repair TVs. Fox doesn't tell the FCC about this, As all they care about is the money. I have Dish Network with Locals from Los Angeles and there are No UHF antennas for sale anymore in Barstow Calif and installing them is impossible for Me as I'm disabled(I live in Yermo Ca), FOX can get lost for all I care, As the other network affiliates will not weep one bit when FOX pulls the plug on Satellite and not on Cable(Whatever happened to Equal Protection under the Law?), I guess FOX hasn't ever heard of that, They must think GREED is really good.
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Just a few points...
UHF antennas are WIDELY available! In fact they are also used for off-air HD reception! So they are not on their way out. Just google winegard antennas or look up a site such as http://www.starkelectronic.com/uhf.htm
As far as what your local retailer carries...that is up to them.
"Equal protection under the law?" What??? Is this some new anti-copyright rant over the right to free access?
And regarding Fox, or any of the other broadcasters, we can debate endlessly over whether it is more important for viewers to see their channel or whether they should retain the right to control their signal and receive compensation for its use - but the bottom line is that it is their content! And listening to folks whine that it is their right to see it is akin to listening to the adolescent whine that it is their 'right' to have free music without the owners of the content being compensated!
Tell you what, I have decided that it is MY right to use your car (and not pay for gas) anytime I like! Where are the keys!? Excited?
I love how others seem to think they have the right and the authority to decide that they are entitled to someone else's possessions!
This isn't a debate over YOUR or ANY viewers' rights! It is a debate between Echostar, who seems to think they owe NO technology or content owner anything, and Fox and the other broadcasters who DO OWN the content!
And whether we like it or not, the owners of the content are entitled to compensation from another vendor who is profiting from the use of their property!
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Well if Direct TV can broadcast on satelight then there should be no reason Dish cant. They would still ahve to follow the law, owned or not.
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Directv already settled with the networks long ago.
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Wow, so if I own Dish, then I don't have to watch that crappy Fox propaganda?
That's a win-win, and in the words of Homer Simpson: WOO-HOO!
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Yes Homer, you can go back to your fantasy world of stupidity and ignorance.
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"EchoStar added that it could end up taking its case to Congress and pushing for legislation on the matter."
I hope they do, these stupid outdated broadcast laws need doing away with. Who still uses a TV antenna anyway?
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This is the main reason I dropped satellite and went back to cable. It's ridiculous to have a nice satellite system with DVR and then not be able to record the local stations.
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Let us guess DirectTv will offer Fox, this is an unfair advantage ( it shouldn't be unfair but it is ).
Just charge them a huge amount of money, instead of spending money to fight it, because the fact the other networks worked out the issue looks bad for News Corp.
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