HBO Goes Dark for the First Time Amid DISH Dispute

AT&T’s HBO and Cinemax premium channels have been pulled from DISH and Sling TV in the U.S. as the result of an ongoing spat.

DISH and Sling allege that it is because AT&T has made “untenable demands designed specifically to harm customers, particularly those in rural areas, as well as damage competing pay-TV providers.” AT&T is said to be asking that DISH pay for a guaranteed number of subscribers, regardless of how many consumers actually want to subscribe to HBO.

AT&T acquired Time Warner, including HBO and Cinemax, earlier this year. On August 6, the U.S. Department of Justice appealed the court’s decision to allow the merger.

“Plain and simple, the merger created for AT&T immense power over consumers,” said Andy LeCuyer, DISH’s senior VP of programming. “It seems AT&T is implementing a new strategy to shut off its recently acquired content from other distributors. This may be the first of many HBO blackouts for consumers across the country. AT&T no longer has incentive to come to an agreement on behalf of consumer choice; instead, it’s been given the power to grab more money or steal away customers.”

HBO said: “During our 40-plus years of operation, HBO has always been able to reach an agreement with our valued distributors and our services have never been taken down or made unavailable to subscribers due to an inability to conclude a deal. Unfortunately, DISH is making it extremely difficult, responding to our good faith attempts with unreasonable terms. Past behavior shows that removing services from their customers is becoming all too common a negotiating tactic for them. We hope the situation with DISH changes soon but, in the meantime, our valued customers should take advantage of the other ways to access an HBO subscription so they can continue to enjoy our acclaimed programming.”

For now, DISH and eligible Sling TV customers will be credited on their bill for the time they do not receive HBO or Cinemax. DISH is also offering customers a free preview of HDNET Movies, which showcases a range of feature films commercial-free.