The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Paul Bond reported CBS is "accusing Dish Network of 'deliberately dragging its feet for months' instead of striking a new carriage deal, and the network says that the provider of satellite TV services pays 'considerably more money to much lesser-watched cable networks that what CBS is asking.'" Dish's current distribution deal with the 14 TV stations that CBS owns ends tomorrow, and CBS has been "warning customers in those markets that its programming could be interrupted absent a new arrangement." The markets that "could be affected include some of the nation's largest," including L.A., N.Y., Chicago and Denver (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 11/18).
WEIGHING OFFERS: ORLANDO SOCCER DAILY's Christopher Kimball cited a source as saying that expansion MLS club Orlando City SC "appears to be close to signing a deal" for regional TV rights. The source said that after the club "heard pitches from multiple networks," including WKMG-CBS and the Brighthouse Sports Network, WOFL-Fox has "emerged as the frontrunner to become Orlando City’s new broadcasting partner." The deal would "cover all regular season broadcasts, but due to scheduling conflicts some matches would likely be pushed to the network’s sister channel," WRBW (ORLANDOSOCCERDAILY.com, 11/14).
SHARK BITE: The Sharks, CSN California and the Guitammer Co. have entered into a pilot partnership program in which all of the Sharks '14-15 games at SAP Center that are telecast by CSN California will utilize Guitammer's patented 4D Sports technology. The wireless ButtKicker Kit features sensors attached to boards that capture the impact of players crashing into the boards. The technology is slated to debut Nov. 20 against the Panthers (Guitammer).
