Barrington Broadcasting CEO Blasts EchoStar Before Senate Panel

Jim Yager, CEO of Barrington Broadcasting, spoke on behalf of the National Association of Broadcasters today when he criticized EchoStar Communications [DISH] for providing “illegal services to hundreds of thousands” of DISH satellite TV subscribers by providing them with distant network signals when local channels are available to carry.

Yager also verbally bashed EchoStar’s practice of forcing customers to obtain a second satellite dish to receive certain local stations, most often Spanish-language, religious and public stations. He offered his views in prepared comments to the Senate Commerce Committee regarding the re-authorization of the Satellite Home Viewer Act (also known as the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act).

“We hope Congress will end this discriminatory practice,” Yager testified.