Englewood – Dish Network said today it hopes to reach a contract agreement soon to restore two Lifetime Television channels to its service.
Dish customers stopped receiving the Lifetime channels on Sunday after Lifetime’s contract with Dish parent EchoStar Communications Corp. expired the day before.
EchoStar spokesman Mark Cicero declined to discuss the negotiations. He said he did not know whether the sides were talking today, a legal holiday.
“We hope to negotiate a fair contract as soon as possible,” he said.
EchoStar said Lifetime had requested an “exorbitant” 76 percent rate hike. Lifetime said it had offered to extend the existing contract through the holidays but Dish refused.
Lifetime accused Dish of unilaterally pulling its channels.
Englewood-based EchoStar says it has more than 10 million customers and nine satellites.
New York-based Lifetime says its programs reach more than 89 million households.
