DISH Sues NBC for Breach of Contract, Expects to File for Arbitration

 DISH issued the following statement regarding current distribution renewal negotiations with NBCUniversal.

"NBC's public statements against DISH over the past 24 hours are in violation of the contract between the two companies. Today, DISH filed a breach of contract lawsuit against NBC to address those violations.

"DISH has successfully negotiated agreements representing numerous networks in recent months that benefit all parties, including our viewers. DISH's goal is to reach a mutually beneficial deal with NBC.

"However, based on NBCU's actions to date, DISH currently expects to file for arbitration, which would prevent NBC from blacking out DISH customers.

"Under the conditions imposed by the FCC and Department of Justice in approving the Comcast-NBCUniversal merger, NBC is forbidden from blacking out its networks if a pay-TV provider chooses, in its sole discretion, to exercise its right for binding arbitration. Regulators implemented these conditions to prevent Comcast and NBC from harming consumers and competition.

"In the event of arbitration, affected programming would remain available during that process, and for the foreseeable future."