Satellite TV provider turns off Viacom channels

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Tuesday, March 9, 2004 | 9:22 a.m.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Satellite television provider EchoStar Communications Corp. pulled the plug on MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and local CBS affiliates early today in a contract dispute with Viacom Inc. over the price of programming.

An estimated 1.6 million customers on EchoStar's DISH Network across the nation were affected, a move that could threaten their ability to watch, among other things, the March Madness college basketball tournament.

In place of Viacom programming, some customers saw a message from EchoStar saying the multimedia giant was asking an unreasonable amount for its programming.

A statement from Viacom after the 3 a.m. EST contract deadline passed urged EchoStar customers to stop subscribing to Echostar's DISH Network.