Two Lifetime-network channels were back on the satellite- television Dish Network on Wednesday after their parent companies settled a month- long programming dispute that triggered protests from women’s groups.
EchoStar Communications Corp. and Lifetime Entertainment Services had been at odds over the programming fees EchoStar pays to carry the channels on its Dish Network.
The two companies announced a multiyear agreement Wednesday, a day after the cable channels were returned to the Dish Network.
Douglas County-based Echo Star is the nation’s second-largest satellite-TV provider, with about 12 million customers. New York-based Lifetime is jointly owned by the Walt Disney Co. and the Hearst Corp.
Details about the fees were not released.
Representatives of both companies said Wednesday they were pleased with the new agreement.
EchoStar pulled Lifetime and the Lifetime Movie Network on New Year’s Eve.
Four dozen women’s organizations said woman viewers rely on the channels for information about critical issues such as abuse, breast cancer and teen pregnancies.
Protest rallies were held in Denver and several other cities, and an ad campaign also was waged in several cities.
