NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--Satellite television provider DISH Network Corp. (DISH) said Thursday it will replace The Weather Channel on its system at midnight with The Weather Cast, its new, 24-hour weather service.
The switch comes as pay-TV service providers are facing demands from TV networks for higher carriage fees, and The Weather Channel said DISH has refused to pay the market price for its channel.
"Despite negotiations over the past several months, DISH has chosen to be the first distributor to drop The Weather Channel rather than pay the standard industry rates others in the industry have already agreed to pay," said The Weather Channel spokeswoman Shirley Powell in an emailed statement.
DISH said it's dropping the The Weather Channel because the network, which was acquired by an investor group led by NBC Universal and two private equity firms in 2008, has moved away from its traditional role of weather reporting to a mix of movies and other entertainment-focused programming.
"Our customers always tell us that the only thing they want in a weather channel is weather reporting," said Dave Shull, senior vice president of programming with DISH. "We believe The Weather Cast is the best available weather service in America."
DISH said The Weather Cast programs 24-hour weather reporting, interactive forecasting and real-time national storm tracking.
NBC Universal, a part owner of The Weather Channel, is owned by General Electric Co. (GE), which recently agreed to sell a majority stake in the media conglomerate to the nation's largest cable provider, Comcast Corp. (CMCSA), which competes for subscribers with DISH.
"We are disappointed with their decision and hopeful that we can still reach an agreement with DISH Network and bring this highly valued network back to its customers," said The Weather Channel's Powell. "In the meantime, we are urging our viewers to contact Direct TV or their local cable or telco provider to receive The Weather Channel."
