DIRECTV Drops Versus HD Network, Dish Customers Can Still Tune In

2 September, 2009

It's official. DIRECTV will no longer carry Comcast's Versus HD Network. Their contract with Comcast expired August 31 and the two companies were unable to reach a renewal agreement. Derek Chang, DIRECTV's Executive Vice President of Content Strategy and Development stated the following reasons:

"The deal that just expired was well above market value and beyond what other significant distributors were paying. To add insult to injury Comcast demanded we carry Versus at a 20 percent premium in a new deal…."

The well-publicized split has been far from amicable. Frustrations and disappointments have been expressed from both DIRECTV and Versus sides. And let's not forget, somewhere between the Versus DIRECTV exchanges lies the Versus viewers who are now without their programming and may have a few frustrations of their own.

However, with all the conflict aside, the Versus channel is not completely lost. While it can no longer be viewed on DIRECTV, Versus fans can still catch Versus HD on Dish Network. It's ordinarily found on the Gold 250 Package and above, but right now, Dish Network is offering a free Versus preview on the Bronze 100 and Silver 200 packages from 9/1/09 to 11/30/09.

To see all the great channels available with the Versus network, visit our Channel Line-up page.