U.S. Supreme Court Rejects DISH Appeal

The U.S. Supreme Court Monday refused to hear an appeal from the parent company of DISH network that barred it from transmitting network TV programming.

But the refusal may be moot because EchoStar Communications Corp. has turned over transmission of the contested signals to a third company.

EchoStar was accused of violating a U.S. law that lets satellite companies provide rural subscribers with broadcast networks if they cannot otherwise get a broadcast television signal.

EchoStar allegedly provided programming to ineligible customers, The Wall Street Journal reported.

EchoStar reached agreements with ABC, NBC and CBS — agreeing to pay local stations $100 million — but it failed to reach an agreement with Fox affiliates.

Fox is owned by News Corp., which also controls EchoStar rival DirecTV Group Inc.

A federal judge ordered all EchoStar network signals shut off by Dec 1.

EchoStar responded in November saying it turned over transmission of the contested signals to a third company, National Programming Service.

The broadcasters now accuse EchoStar of evading the injunction by having the signals transmitted by National Programming over EchoStar’s equipment.