EchoStar said carriage complaints by Word Network and other publi...
EchoStar said carriage complaints by Word Network and other public interest programmers “underscores the importance” of its pending takeover of Hughes (CD Jan 29 p8). Spokesman said deal would free up bandwidth to provide more services to more people.…
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Word Network would continue to be carried because it currently is on DirecTV, EchoStar said. Spokesman, responding to criticism and protests at Washington hq, said EchoStar selected African-American owned Colours TV and StarNet as part of 21 public interest channels being offered by DISH network. Spokesman said EchoStar also carried BET and Black Starz stations that were geared to African-American audience. He refused to confirm planned meeting today (Wed.) of representatives of Word and EchoStar Chmn. Charles Ergen in Washington, citing nondisclosure agreement with Word Network. Civil rights leaders told Communications Daily following March on Mon. that they would be returning to Washington for meeting to discuss concerns about carriage of Word Network, but spokesman for group said late Tues. that meeting was “iffy.” He said protests would move to Littleton, Colo., and FCC if Ergen refused to meet groups’ demands. Meanwhile Word filed opposition petition against EchoStar-Hughes deal at FCC Fri.