Yes, Dish subs, there will be a Super Bowl. A judge ruled Thurs to extend a restraining order keeping Viacom [VIA] from pulling CBS stations and cable nets from EchoStar [DISH] until March 3. Viacom actually made the request, also asking that a preliminary injunction hearing slated for today be moved to Feb 27 (also granted). "We put a very fair offer on the table nearly a week ago and have had no response from EchoStar, which continues to show more concern with legal maneuvers than providing more choice to their subscribers," Viacom said, adding that it’s hopeful EchoStar will "put its customers first and come back to the table." EchoStar seems intent on going the legal route, saying it’s pleased viewers won’t be denied the Super Bowl but it added that tying CBS carriage to a deal is an anti-trust issue. "This change in tactics by CBS to allow viewers to watch the Super Bowl does not change the fundamental Viacom policy of offering the CBS network only in return for our customers paying for channels they do not want and at price increases in excess of four times the rate of inflation."

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MVPDs on Carriage Negotiations Amidst SVOD Boom

MVPDs continue to have strong relationships with programmers even as the latter group lean more into direct-to-consumer options, but those streaming solutions are already having a major impact on carriage negotiations.

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