Disney, EchoStar Hearing Postponed

A federal court hearing on Walt Disney Co.’s request for an injunction to prevent satellite broadcaster EchoStar Communications Corp. from dropping Disney’s ABC Family channel has been postponed so the two sides could pursue a deal, the companies said.

The hearing, scheduled for Monday, was postponed for two more weeks, an EchoStar spokesman said. A spokesman for Disney said both sides asked U.S. District Judge Gary Feess for more time to pursue a deal.

In December, EchoStar, the No. 2 U.S. satellite broadcaster, said it would drop ABC Family because of what it claimed were low ratings. EchoStar also cited a provision in its affiliate agreement with ABC Family that allows the broadcaster to drop the channel after a change in its control.

Disney acquired the Fox Family channel in November from News Corp.