Dish drops CNN, Cartoon Network over spat

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Michael A. Schwarz | Bloomberg

Pedestrians pass in front of CNN signage displayed at the network's headquarters building in Atlanta.

Mark Harden

News Director- Denver Business Journal

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Dish Network Corp. has stopped offering Turner Broadcasting System Inc. channels as the Colorado-based satellite-TV service and Turner battle over renewal of their distribution deal.

The Associated Press reports that among the channels that have disappeared from Dish (Nasdaq: DISH) until the matter is settled are CNN, Cartoon Network, Turner Classic Movies, HLN, Boomerang and truTV.

Most of Dish's 14 million customers pay to receive the Turner channels, the Los Angeles Times reports.

In a statement, Dish says "the two companies have been unable to negotiate the terms of a renewed distribution agreement, and Turner refused to extend the overall agreement."

Turner -- a division of Time Warner Inc. founded by Ted Turner -- said it has worked hard to reach a deal and wants Dish to return to the bargaining table.

Battles like this between video content creators and distributors have become more frequent in recent years, leading to viewers' favorite programs being yanked off the air temporarily.

Mark Harden directs print and digital news content for the Denver Business Journal, contributes to the "17th & Lincoln" blog and compiles the daily "Afternoon Edition" email. Email: mharden@bizjournals.com. Phone: 303-803-9227.