Subscribers to the DISH Network stopped receiving Lifetime and the Lifetime Movie Network on New Year’s Eve because of a breakdown in contract negotiations between the two companies.
“Lifetime demanded an exorbitant price increase of 76 percent under the contract term,” said Mark Cicero, spokesman for the satellite network’s parent company, Douglas County-based EchoStar Communications. “If DISH Network capitulated to Lifetime’s … pricing, unreasonable rate increases for DISH Network customers would result.”
On its website, Lifetime officials say DISH Network is misleading subscribers and denying women their favorite networks.
“The truth is that DISH unilaterally pulled Lifetime Networks off the air … despite our offer to extend their contract through the holidays and despite more than seven months of our efforts to reach a fair agreement,” the website says. “The truth is that we only asked for pennies more for the No. 1 and No. 2 women’s channels, a fraction of what DISH and (DISH Network CEO) Charlie Ergen have been willing to pay for much less popular networks.”
Cicero declined to say whether customers of the DISH Network had complained about missing the channels, citing a policy that does not allow him to reveal customer call volume.
EchoStar has about 11.7 million customers around the country, making it the No. 3 pay-TV provider behind DirecTV and Comcast Corp.
In the meantime, DISH Network is showing Women’s Entertainment Network (WE). DISH Network says it will try to continue negotiations to put Lifetime back on the air.
For more information, customers are encouraged to visit www.dishnetwork.com, www.lifetimetv.com or e-mail the DISH Network at ceoofdishnetwork@ dishnetwork.com.
Staff writer Felisa Cardona can be reached at 303-820-1219 or at fcardona@denverpost.com.
