EchoStar Settles Nine Year Litigation With ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox Affiliates

[MikeI]

Are we safe if we have waivers?

 

[Greg Bimson]

Are we safe if we have waivers?

That is the issue.

Remember, during the trial, Dish Network presented no evidence of subscribers with either waivers or with grandfather status. So those people have been a bone of contention for some time.

It depends on how the settlement was structured. If the affiliate boards put the screws to Dish Network about requalification, and as Jim DeFranco stated that "Everyone would have to requalify", I'll take it that means everyone and it doesn't look good.

 

[waltinvt]

It depends on how the settlement was structured. If the affiliate boards put the screws to Dish Network about requalification, and as Jim DeFranco stated that "Everyone would have to requalify", I'll take it that means everyone and it doesn't look good.

Now does that mean everyone's dns gets dropped until if and when they can re-qualify or everyone's dns stays put until requalifing drops them?

 

[Greg Bimson]

Now does that mean everyone's dns gets dropped until if and when they can re-qualify or everyone's dns stays put until requalifing drops them?

Once again, who knows? The problem here is that we don't know under what terms Dish Network just agreed to settle. I don't like the wording of the press release at all.

What I am suspecting is that the networks will be able to go over Dish Network's distant network subscriber list with a hatchet. I hate saying it this way, but the press release from Dish Network regarding the settlement leaves me no other option: I suspect that MOST of Dish Network's distant subscribers within markets that have locals available will be cut-off. Heck, let me say it this way: I suspect more than half of Dish Network's distant subscribers will be cut off, but only because the networks will leave those in unavailable markets alone.

 

[Derwin0]

I would imagine that if an affiliate gave you a waiver in the first place, they would more than likely stamp the same waiver off again as okay.

Those who got a waiver in one market, then "moved" to another without the system killing the waiver will probably lose that "moved" waiver.

In the gray area are waivers that were "automatically" approved when the affiliate did not answer back in 45 days, the affiliate may or may not stamp off on it. Also Fox O&O affiliates might hold a grudge if dragged into the settlement and reject any and all waivers.
White area folks stand to be safe though.