DISH Wins Restraining Order in Viacom Dispute

[Gregg Lengling]

A U.S. District Court judge in California granted EchoStar's request for a temporary restraining order preventing the loss of Viacom and CBS channels delivered by DISH Network.

The court ruled late Friday that EchoStar can continue retransmission of CBS-owned and operated network stations and continue carriage of such channels as MTV, MTV2, MTV Espanol, Nickelodeon, Nick Games and Sports, VH1, VH1 Classic, Comedy Central, Noggin, Spike TV, CMT, TV Land and BET. Continued carriage is subject to terms and conditions in effect between the parties as of Dec. 31, court documents said.

The parties were ordered to appear in court Friday, Jan. 23, concerning whether the order should not be converted to a preliminary injunction extending until conclusion of litigation.

In response, EchoStar said, "We are pleased that the court recognizes that the interest of the public is served by this temporary restraining order against Viacom and CBS; but we are especially pleased that the American TV viewer will have uninterrupted access to the public airwaves."

Viacom said in a statement it was disappointed with the temporary restraining order. However, "We remain highly confident in our position and look forward to the full hearing we will receive at the preliminary injunction hearing."

Viacom added, "We continue to believe that EchoStar's suit is a delaying tactic, and that the proper place for this dispute is at the conference table, not the courtroom."