01-21-02, 05:22 AM
Members of the National Action Network will lead a second protest against Charlie Ergen and EchoStar on Jan. 28 in front of the satellite TV company's Washington, D.C., offices.
In addition to the EchoStar action, the National Action Network will also be demonstrating in front of the Washington, D.C., offices of Credit Suisse First Boston, a financial institution which the organization said has considerable investments in EchoStar.
There was no word about any demonstration at EchoStar's Denver headquarters. The National Action Network is protesting against EchoStar for what it said is the company's lackluster programming options for African-Americans and its refusal to carry The Word channel in its public interest lineup.
News of the second protest comes as networks that are part of EchoStar's satellite-delivered public interest slate voiced support for EchoStar.
That group includes Colours, a network aimed at the African-American community. "We applaud the efforts of EchoStar to embrace public interest programming that has appeal to a global television viewing market with diverse people, interest and ideals," officials with Colours said in a statement.
John Schwartz, president of Free Speech TV, another channel in EchoStar's public interest set, said, "In light of the quality of the recently added public interest channels on DISH, I am very eager to see the extensive new programming that will be available post-merger." He said a combination of the two DBS platforms will free capacity for more public interest channels.
From <a href="http://www.skyreport.com" target=none>SkyReport</a> (Used with permission)
In addition to the EchoStar action, the National Action Network will also be demonstrating in front of the Washington, D.C., offices of Credit Suisse First Boston, a financial institution which the organization said has considerable investments in EchoStar.
There was no word about any demonstration at EchoStar's Denver headquarters. The National Action Network is protesting against EchoStar for what it said is the company's lackluster programming options for African-Americans and its refusal to carry The Word channel in its public interest lineup.
News of the second protest comes as networks that are part of EchoStar's satellite-delivered public interest slate voiced support for EchoStar.
That group includes Colours, a network aimed at the African-American community. "We applaud the efforts of EchoStar to embrace public interest programming that has appeal to a global television viewing market with diverse people, interest and ideals," officials with Colours said in a statement.
John Schwartz, president of Free Speech TV, another channel in EchoStar's public interest set, said, "In light of the quality of the recently added public interest channels on DISH, I am very eager to see the extensive new programming that will be available post-merger." He said a combination of the two DBS platforms will free capacity for more public interest channels.
From <a href="http://www.skyreport.com" target=none>SkyReport</a> (Used with permission)