Posted: Wed, Jun 18, 2003, 12:42 PM ET (1642 GMT)
Satellite TV operator EchoStar filed papers with the FCC this week, asking it to block a proposed purchase of rival DirecTV by News Corporation. In a brief filed with the FCC, EchoStar claimed that News Corp., which owns the Fox family of networks, could charge EchoStar and other broadcasters higher fees for that programming once the company had control of DirecTV. News Corp. has previously denied that it would offer its programming exclusively on DirecTV or charge higher fees to other broadcasters. EchoStar previously sought to acquire DirecTV itself, but was forced to cancel those plans after the FCC voted to block the merger and the US Justice Department filed suit. News Corp. agreed earlier this year to acquire 34 percent of DirecTV, giving it control of the satellite television company.

Related Links:

•  Reuters article
•  AP article
•  Washington Post article