After four years’ wrangling, Cablevision and AMC Networks have settled their legal case against Dish Network, and Dish has started broadcasting AMC’s channels once again.
As part of the deal, Dish has entered into a long-term distribution agreement with AMC Networks to carry AMC, IFC, Sundance Channel and WE tv, and with The Madison Square Garden Company to carry Fuse on its satellite service.
Dish resumed broadcasting the AMC channel yesterday on Dish channel 131, with the other channels due to start November 1.
“We are glad to have settled the case and reestablished our long-term relationships with AMC Networks and Cablevision,” says Dave Shull, senior vice president of Programming at Dish.
“This multi-year deal delivers a fair value for both parties and includes digital expansion opportunities for AMC Networks’ programming.”
Voom HD Holdings – at the time, a unit of Cablevision but now part of AMC – sued Dish for $2.4 billion after Dish pulled a series of HD channels which Voom said were the subject of a 15-year contract.
Now, Dish will pay Cablevision and AMC $700 million in cash, of which $80 million will go to buying Cablevision’s multichannel video and data distribution service (MVDDS) licenses in 45 metropolitan areas in the US.
Dish’s 20 percent membership interest in VOOM HD will be transferred to Rainbow Programming Holdings – a unit of cablevision – so that Cablevision and AMC Networks retain the full cash settlement.
“We are glad to partner again with DISH Network and are delighted to bring back our popular channels and programming to their customers,” says Josh Sapan, president and CEO of AMC.
