Dish Network, NFL Network Reach Agreement, Resolve Dispute

Dish Network and the NFL Network said that they have reached an agreement, which calls for Dish to "continue to carry NFL Network on its Classic Silver 200 programming package on a multiyear basis," according to Mike Reynolds of MULTICHANNEL NEWS. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Reynolds noted Dish "pulled NFL Network from the 'free preview' on its America's Top 100 package, moving it to its AT200 tier on Feb. 20, 2008, in response to the channel's decision to simulcast" the December '07 Patriots-Giants game on CBS and NBC. NFL Network "filed suit against Dish in New York State Supreme Court after the move" (MULTICHANNEL.com, 4/11). The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Georg Szalai wrote the agreement is "some much-needed good news for the 5-year-old NFL Network," as it "came ahead of FCC hearings on the Comcast-NFL Network programming dispute," which were scheduled to begin today. A decision on that dispute "could take several months, though, and each side can then appeal the FCC ruling in federal courts" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 4/11). CABLEFAX DAILY wrote it will be "interesting to see if NFL Net agrees to concessions this month with Comcast, which may drop the net May 1 because NFL Net remains unhappy with tier carriage on the MSO" (CABLEFAX DAILY, 4/13).