EchoStar May Drop SNY Prior To Mets' Home Opener On Friday

EchoStar and SportsNet N.Y. are in the middle of a carriage dispute that could see Dish Network drop the channel prior to the Mets' season-opening game against the Marlins Friday. SNY's carriage deal with the satellite operator expires Thursday night. "We do not comment about on-going negotiations," SNY officials said in an e-mail. But sources said Dish Network could drop the channel, considering that the satellite operator does not carry any other N.Y.-area RSNs. RSNs are among the most expensive channels on distributors' systems, and Dish Network could be deciding to stay out of the N.Y. sports market completely.

Over the past two years, SNY has taken steps to expand its programming lineup beyond N.Y., signing up as the official home of the Univ. of Connecticut's men's basketball and football teams. It also is the official home of Syracuse Univ. sports.