The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. has put on hold the Federal Communications Commission's order requiring Comcast to make Tennis Channel available on the same tier as other sports channels it owns (NBC Sports Network and Golf Channel). The decision comes just after Comcast announced on its web site that it would move Tennis Channel from a more pricey sports tier to a basic digital tier on September 7, which is during the second week of the U.S. Open.
Comcast had asked the U.S. Court of Appeals to stay enforcement until it had heard Comcast’s challenge to the FCC’s decision, but some industry insiders thought the court would take more time to render a judgment.
Tennis Channel had said that the move would make the network available in about 18 million more homes.
"We are pleased the Court of Appeals has recognized the serious issues raised by the FCC’s unprecedented Tennis Channel decision and granted our request to stay the FCC’s action, sparing millions of our customers needless disruption," Comcast said in a statement.
The Tennis Channel said in statement that it is “disappointed by today’s U.S. Court of Appeals stay decision. We believe that the FCC’s decision was correct and that the court will agree with the FCC when it considers the full case.”