By Angela Chen
Dish Network LLC and The Weather Channel have agreed to renew
their partnership, laying to rest fears that the satellite TV
provider would drop the struggling TV network.
Dish customers will retain access to The Weather Channel and its
interactive application, among other things. This includes
streaming rights for live and video-on-demand offerings. Further
terms weren't disclosed.
"Dish and The Weather Channel have been partners for two
decades" and are "pleased" to continue the partnership, said Dish
senior vice president of programming Warren Schlichting.
The two companies have clashed before over fees. In 2010, the
Weather Channel asked for a substantial increase in compensation
from the satellite company. Dish then said it would airing a new
weather-focused channel that will replace Weather Channel.
After days of saber-rattling, the companies reached a multiyear
agreement for the continued distribution of the cable channel on
Dish Network's service.
The companies' carriage contract expires in coming months. The
Wall Street Journal reported in early April that the Weather
Channel's backers had prepared preparing for the possibility of
being dropped by Dish, which has about 14 million subscribers.
Meanwhile, The Weather Channel, known for its round-the-clock
forecasts and tracking of big weather events such as hurricanes and
blizzards, is facing a major threat to its core business--the fees
it collects from pay-TV providers that carry its channel.
Shares of Dish were down about 4% this year through Tuesday's
close.
Write to Angela Chen at angela.chen@dowjones.com
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