CBS gives 'short term extension' to Dish; satellite operator now in showdown with Comcast Sports, too

With its carriage deal with Dish Network (NASDAQ: DISH) expiring Thursday, Nov. 20, CBS Corp. has agreed keep its channels on the satellite operator's program guide until Nov. 25.

CBS released a terse statement late Thursday afternoon, saying it "has agreed to a short term extension while negotiations continue."

The agreement follows a month of rhetoric during which Dish impugned the value of CBS programming based on the programmer's new OTT service, while CBS accused the satellite operator of "dragging its feet" in negotiations.

The ongoing talks not only concern broadcast retransmission for 29 CBS-owned stations in 17 markets, but also carriage for cable channels CBS Sports and Showtime. Dish has around 14 million pay-TV subscribers.

The CBS negotiation is only one of several that have spilled into public rhetoric for Dish, with the MVPD also agreeing on Friday to end a standoff with Turner Networks.

Comcast regional sports networks in Chicago, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. are also threatening to go off Dish, which is balking at what it describes as 20 percent fee increases.

For more:
- read this Wall Street Journal story

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