EchoStar Responds to Fox Ruling

EchoStar responded to a injunction that would prevent it from transmitting network television stations to those who may not be able to receive the programming otherwise over the air on Monday, expressing its disappointment with the ruling.

The injunction was issued on Friday by a U.S. District Court in Miami.

The company, which owns DISH Network, had reached a $100 million settlement with affiliates of ABC, NBC, and CBS over the transmission of their channels. However, Fox network owner News Corp. objected to the ruling and was successful in having it overturned.

"EchoStar will continue to do everything possible to prevent consumers from losing their distant network channels," the company said in a statement. "We will ask Congress to clarify the statutory language, and ask the courts to re-consider their decision."

About one million of DISH's 12.46 million subscribers use the "distant network" service, the company claims. Federal law prevents companies from offering these services except in limited circumstances. The company said the injunction would not affect those who receive their own local market channels via satellite, it said.

"In the limited areas where local channels are not available by satellite, we also intend to protect our customers by providing free off-air antennas and other alternatives," EchoStar said.