EchoStar Taps Napster Lawyer

Cable World, Sept 11, 2000

EchoStar Communications has hired David Boies to represent the company in its case against satellite TV competitor DirecTV. Boies led the U.S. Justice Department's antitrust suit against Microsoft and represents Napster in its defense against the Recording Industry Association of America.

In the suit, EchoStar alleges DirecTV, along with Hughes Network Systems and Thomson Consumer Electronics, conspired to keep its DISH Network satellite TV systems from being sold in consumer electronics stores such as Best Buy and Circuit City.

EchoStar also contends that DirecTV's exclusive contract for NFL Sunday Ticket and agreements to incorporate DirecTV receivers into digital televisions constitute anti-competitive behavior. The lawsuit is in the discovery phase.

EchoStar also has added the Odyssey Channel to its programming lineup and initiated local service in the Cincinnati and Greenville, S.C., television markets.

DISH Network bested the competition in the latest J.D. Power and Associates report on customer satisfaction with satellite TV and cable services for the second year in a row. Among cable TV providers, Cable One and Cox Communications performed above the industry average. Cable One ranked just ahead of Cox this year, ending Cox's two-year reign as the top cable company on the list.