Showtime Files Suit Against Charter

LOS ANGELES: Showtime Networks has filed a lawsuit against Charter Communications alleging breach of its agreement for the carriage of the premium cable network.

The suit seeks both damages for underpaid license fees and a declaratory judgment that Showtime Networks’ agreement with Time Warner Cable was terminated upon the closing of Charter’s recent acquisitions of Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks.

“Showtime Networks made every effort to resolve this matter short of the courthouse, but Charter’s persistent refusal to honor its contractual obligations forced Showtime Networks to take this regrettable, but necessary, step,” the company said in a statement.

Showtime is now the third network to sue Charter, following similar claims from Univision and Fox News.