EchoStar, Viacom reach agreement; NCAA tournament safe for Dish Network customers
Early yesterday morning Viacom and EchoStar settled their dispute over the fees media company wanted to charge the satellite service. Dish Network now has the right to carry Viacom channels, including CBS, MTV and Comedy Central. On Tuesday, EchoStar dropped Viacom channels after failing to conclude an acceptable fee agreement. As a result, about 1.5 million Dish Network customers lost CBS and other Viacom-owned channels. A motivating factor behind the settlement is thought to be the fact that the NCAA basketball tournament, which is broadcast by CBS, begins next week.
NMT to offer Vonage broadband telephone service on two trucks
National Mobile Television has announced plans to offer Vonage broadband telephone service on two of its mobile production trucks. Scheduled to launch next month, the pilot program will offer NMT’s clients the benefit of fixed area codes and phone numbers on a per truck basis, as well as easy access to phone service.
Fox Sports spruces up look with new logo
Fox Sports Network has rolled out a new logo to up date its look and begin to rebrand the network to play off its strength as a regional sports broadcaster. FSN created the logo internally.
Over the next few months the words “Fox Sports Network” will be eliminated. By September, they will be replaced with regional designations, such as “West.”
Wasserman Media acquires 411 Productions
Wasserman Media Group, a sports and entertainment company, has purchased 411 Productions, a provider of content in the action sports industry. The acquisition offers 411 Productions an opportunity to expand it development and distribution.
Comcast to carry NBA TV
Comcast Cable and the National Basketball Association have signed a comprehensive multi-year agreement through which NBA TV will be made available to Digital Cable customers on Comcast systems serving more than 21 million customers. With this agreement, NBA TV will be available to 66 million U.S. homes.
Beginning in April, Comcast will make NBA TV, the league's 24-hour television channel, available as part of its Digital Cable service in major markets, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Francisco and Seattle.
For more information, please visit: http://www.cmcsk.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=147565&p=irol-newsArticle&t=Regular&id=503561&.
