02-01-02, 05:37 AM
The skirmish between members of the National Action Network (NAN), The Word Network and EchoStar has become ... well, more interesting.
The National Action Network, founded by Rev. Al Sharpton, has been targeting EchoStar and CEO Charlie Ergen about the company's refusal to carry The Word Network, a channel aimed at African Americans, on its public interest lineup. NAN, along with The Word Network, also is taking issue with the proposed merger between the company and DirecTV.
On Thursday, Sam Riddle, which is helping the National Action Network with its protests against EchoStar, said the company denied officials with The Word Network access to the company's public inspection file. The demand to see the file, made earlier this week, is to determine whether EchoStar is in compliance with EEOC requirements and other regulations, NAN said.
In response, EchoStar said in a statement that it provided access and copies of its public inspection files as requested by Word Network representatives when they visited the company's Littleton, Colo., office this week.
EchoStar also said executives have met with Word Network representatives several times. In addition, Ergen has offered to meet recently with Sharpton and Word Network associates on two occasions in Washington, D.C., but Ergen's efforts were rebuffed, the company said. NAN has said it wants to meet with Ergen.
"Therefore, it is extremely difficult for EchoStar to understand The Word Network's and Rev. Sharpton's continued calls for protests," the company said.
The real fireworks could fly Saturday, when NAN and others plan to demonstrate outside Ergen's home.
Because the number of qualified applicants exceeded the number of public interest channels available for 2001, EchoStar said it was unable to offer carriage to public interest channel applicants such as The Word Network. EchoStar said it carries programming made by and for African-Americans such as CoLours TV, BET and Black Starz.
From <a href="http://www.skyreport.com" target=none>SkyReport</a> (Used with permission)
The National Action Network, founded by Rev. Al Sharpton, has been targeting EchoStar and CEO Charlie Ergen about the company's refusal to carry The Word Network, a channel aimed at African Americans, on its public interest lineup. NAN, along with The Word Network, also is taking issue with the proposed merger between the company and DirecTV.
On Thursday, Sam Riddle, which is helping the National Action Network with its protests against EchoStar, said the company denied officials with The Word Network access to the company's public inspection file. The demand to see the file, made earlier this week, is to determine whether EchoStar is in compliance with EEOC requirements and other regulations, NAN said.
In response, EchoStar said in a statement that it provided access and copies of its public inspection files as requested by Word Network representatives when they visited the company's Littleton, Colo., office this week.
EchoStar also said executives have met with Word Network representatives several times. In addition, Ergen has offered to meet recently with Sharpton and Word Network associates on two occasions in Washington, D.C., but Ergen's efforts were rebuffed, the company said. NAN has said it wants to meet with Ergen.
"Therefore, it is extremely difficult for EchoStar to understand The Word Network's and Rev. Sharpton's continued calls for protests," the company said.
The real fireworks could fly Saturday, when NAN and others plan to demonstrate outside Ergen's home.
Because the number of qualified applicants exceeded the number of public interest channels available for 2001, EchoStar said it was unable to offer carriage to public interest channel applicants such as The Word Network. EchoStar said it carries programming made by and for African-Americans such as CoLours TV, BET and Black Starz.
From <a href="http://www.skyreport.com" target=none>SkyReport</a> (Used with permission)