EchoStar Seeking FCC's Assistance In Gaining SportsNet

EchoStar "asked the FCC to force Comcast to let it carry its Comcast SportsNet service as a condition of approving Comcast's merger with AT&T Broadband," according to MULTICHANNEL NEWSDAY. For years, Comcast has "refused to sell" SportsNet to EchoStar and DirecTV. The FCC said in response to complaints from EchoStar and DirecTV that Comcast "may withhold [SportsNet] from competitors" since the net is not distributed via satellite (MND, 5/1).