Dish to FCC: Comcast Deal Would Cause Competitors ‘Irreparable Harm’

Dish Network is insisting on its opposition to Comcast’s proposal to buy Time Warner Cable, telling the Federal Communications Commission the deal would cause “irreparable harm” to the entertainment industry and consumers while providing “no discernible benefits.”

“Everyone who likes to watch high-quality online video has particular reason to worry about the proposed merger,” said Jeff Blum, Dish’s SVP and deputy general counsel. “More than 54 percent of the country’s high-speed broadband connections would be controlled by the combined company, and all online video distributors would be at the mercy of Comcast-TWC.” Dish, along with consumer groups, the Writers Guild of America, Discovery Communications and Netflix are among those opposing Comcast’s deal. The latest comments came as Dish responded to arguments the FCC heard earlier from Comcast and its supporters urging the deal to be approved.