Dish Widens FNC Distribution, Adds Fox Business
Deal Brings Fox News to 11 Million Dish Subs
By Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 2/3/2009 4:18:27 PM
Dish Network will move News Corp.'s Fox News Channel to a more widely distributed tier as part of a carriage-renewal deal, while the satellite TV provider has agreed to offer Fox Business Network to less than one-third of its subscriber base.
In addition, Dish will offer HD versions of both networks.
The deal comes shortly after the companies settled a 2007 lawsuit filed by Fox alleging Dish violated the terms of their previous agreement because the satellite operator did not include FNC in its "most widely distributed" tier. Fox had sought $50 million in the suit, which was settled Jan. 31, Reuters reported.
FNC will move to channel 205 on Classic Bronze 100, formerly known as America's Top 100 package, increasing its distribution to more than 11 million Dish subscribers. As of Sept. 30, Dish counted 13.78 million customers.
Previously the news network was available in Dish's middle-tier America's Top 200 package. Across all distributors, FNC is currently available to more than 90 million homes.
"The inclusion of Fox News on Classic Bronze 100 is a milestone for the network," Dish senior vice president of affiliate relations Tim Carry said, in a statement. "We are grateful for the opportunity Dish Network has given Fox News to continue to expand our audience as the No. 1 cable news provider in the country."
FBN is now available on channel 206 through Dish's Classic Gold 250 package (formerly known as America's Top 250), which expands the total distribution for the network to nearly 50 million homes nationwide.
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