EchoStar accused of copyright violations
news.com
By Bloomberg News
Special to CNET News.com
December 3, 1998, 1:20 p.m. PT
The four major U.S broadcast networks are seeking a preliminary injunction
barring EchoStar Communications, the No. 3 U.S. satellite television operator,
from transmitting television signals from their local affiliates.
Walt Disney's ABC, CBS, General Electric's NBC and Fox Entertainment Group said
EchoStar is committing copyright violations under the Satellite Home Viewer Act, and
asked a federal court in Miami to stop EchoStar from beaming the programming.
EchoStar is fighting the broadcasters for rights to re-broadcast the signals from distant
network stations to customers who can't get local network stations through normal
reception equipment. EchoStar is pressing the issue through a lawsuit filed in a court near
its Littleton, Colorado, headquarters and has lobbied both Congress and the Federal
Communications Commission for new rules.
Many viewers live within range of a local network-affiliated station's signal, yet can't view
the local signals using a traditional rooftop antenna because of terrain, buildings or other
problems. Consumers living in so-called "unserved" areas have to subscribe to cable or
satellite television.
Local broadcast stations are worried that satellite companies
often provide customers with distant network TV signals
when they can get a local signal using a rooftop antenna.
Importing distant network signals could erode viewership and
hurt advertising revenue, they say.
The networks and EchoStar differ how "unserved" areas are
defined.
The broadcasters want an injunction similar to one issued in
May that prevented another company, PrimeTime 24, from providing programming from
distant network affiliates to satellite TV subscribers who were served by local CBS and Fox
affiliates.
The new request claims EchoStar stopped using PrimeTime 24's service for the
programming. EchoStar continued to provide the service by transmitting the programming
on its own, the broadcasters contend. |
