The companies have also agreed on a long-term agreement for Dish to carry the AMC Networks AMC, IFC, Sundance Channel and WE tv. AMC's cable networks -- including the flagship channel which carries "Walking Dead" and "Mad Men" -- have been blacked out on Dish systems since July as a result of a contract dispute.
Dish resumed broadcast of the AMC channel on Sunday on channel 131.
“We are glad to have settled the case and reestablished our long-term relationshipswith AMC Networks and Cablevision,” said Dave Shull, senior vice president of programming at Dish. “This multi-year deal delivers a fair value for both parties and includes digital expansion opportunities for AMC Networks’ programming.”
Other AMC Networks programming, including Sundance Channel, WE tv and IFC, will return to Dish Nov. 1. The Madison Square Garden Company’s music-oriented Fuse channel will begin broadcast Nov. 1, as well.
Dish will pay a settlement of $700 million to Cablevision and AMC Networks, $80 million of which will go for the purchase of Cablevision's multichannel video and distribution licenses in 45 U.S. metropolitan areas.
“We are glad to partner again with DISH Network and are delighted to bring back our popular channels and programming to their customers," Josh Sapan, president and CEO, AMC Networks, said in a statement:
Earlier this year, Dish announced that it would stop carrying AMC's networks when AMC's contract ran out at the end of June. Dish claimed that it was dropping the networks because the viewership didn't justify the cost of running the networks.
AMC countered that Dish was dropping the AMC networks in retaliation for a breach-of-contract lawsuit filed against Dish by Voom HD, an indirect subsidiary of AMC Networks.
Voom HD, a former Cablevision unit, sued Dish in 2008, saying the satellite TV distributor violated a 15-year deal to carry HD programming and should pay $2.4 billion in damages. The trial has been unfolding in New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan since Sept. 28.
Dish Chairman Charlie Ergen was scheduled to testify Wednesday in the case. Cablevision founder and Chairman Charles Dolan and Sapan testified earlier.
