EchoStar, Viacom in Showdown Over CBS
EchoStar Communications Corp. Chief Executive Charlie Ergen said the satellite TV service would have to take Viacom Inc.’s CBS broadcast network off in 15 markets unless the sides reach a deal by next week.
EchoStar, the No. 2 U.S. satellite television provider, has been fighting in court to rebroadcast CBS stations owned by Viacom without giving in to what it calls an illegal demand that it also carry some cable channels.
A judge last week gave EchoStar and Viacom until midnight Monday to reach a pact on broadcasting the CBS stations.
A Viacom spokeswoman declined to comment. In the past, the media conglomerate has told the court that bundling of channels was legal.
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