ABC Family Channel Hearing Postponed

A court hearing on Walt Disney Co.’s request for an injunction to prevent EchoStar Communications Corp., the nation’s second-largest satellite firm, from dropping the ABC Family channel has been postponed.

Attorneys for both companies agreed with U.S. District Court Judge Gary Feess to reschedule the hearing to Jan. 17 to allow the court more time to review additional briefs both sides are preparing for the hearing.

Feess last week granted Disney a temporary restraining against EchoStar, which had threatened to stop broadcasting the newly acquired channel to 6.5 million subscribers. The temporary restraining order will remain in effect until next week’s hearing.

The nasty dispute stems from a contract battle that analysts say highlights the challenge Disney faces in seeking rate hikes from cable and satellite-TV operators for ESPN and other channels.

*

Richard Verrier