Sling TV is adding Epix channels to its live and VOD programming, including Epix, Epix2, Epix3 and Epix Drive-In, Sling TV said in a news release Monday. The launch date and pricing will be announced in the next few weeks, it said. Sling TV launched Feb. 9 (see 1502090025).

Dish Network and Epix reached a multiyear renewal agreement for continued carriage of the channel to the DBS company's customers, Dish said in a news release Monday. Dish customers who subscribe to Epix will have access to more than 2,000 VOD titles on DISHAnywhere.com, epix.com and Dish Anywhere and Epix apps, it said.

The FCC should create a new fee category for multichannel video programming distributors, the American Cable Association said in a ex parte notice Friday in docket 13-140. Cable operators and IPTV providers shouldn’t be the only MVPDs supporting the Media Bureau’s MVPD regulatory activities through fees, ACA said. The commission should assess regulatory fees on direct broadcast satellite providers the same way it assess fees for cable and IPTV providers, ACA said. The commission could add DBS to the cable/IPTV fee category, as it added IPTV to the cable-TV category in its 2013 regulatory fees order, ACA said. "The FCC should reject cable's latest proposal to raise satellite fees, just as it did the last five times cable proposed it," DirecTV said in a statement Friday. "The dominant cable providers require more regulation by virtue of their size and broadband offering and since regulatory fees are supposed to recover the costs of regulation, there's no reason for the FCC to revisit the current fee structure." Dish Network didn’t comment.

Establishing an air-ground mobile broadband service could affect secondary service on irregular fixed-service satellite (FSS) operations, including satellite launches, said the Satellite Industry Association in an ex parte notice Thursday in FCC RM-11640. Temporary FSS operations are done under special temporary authorizations, SIA said. The commission should note in a report or order the importance of protecting temporary FSS operations and new satellite constellations from interference from secondary users, SIA said. Earlier this month, the FCC removed from circulation a draft order on establishing an ATG service over national security concerns (see 1502120054).

SES's Ultra HD "demonstration" channel is available in the U.K. and Ireland, the company said in a news release Thursday. The channel will show animals, nature and sports to feature the clarity of Ultra HD TV, SES said. The channel can be received by connecting a standard satellite dish to an Ultra HD flat-screen TV with an integrated satellite tuner and HEVC decoder, it said.

Dish will offer a $250 savings to customers who switch from DirecTV, the company said in a news release Tuesday. The promotion ends April 8, it said. The company released a series of promotional videos showing what customers are willing to do for $250. Customers will need to make a 24-month commitment with AutoPay and paperless billing, it said. "We deal with promotions like this all the time, and Dish has targeted us directly in the past without much success," a DirecTV spokesman said.

Sling TV, the live, over-the-top Internet TV service announced at CES (see 1501050037), is available nationwide, the company said in a news release Monday. Customers can watch live TV on computers, smartphones, tablets and TVs, it said. The company's $20 core package includes ABC Family, Cartoon Network, Disney Channel, ESPN, ESPN2, the Food Network, HGTV, TBS and TNT, and additional sports channels can be added for a $5-per-month Sports Extra package, it said. Customers can watch ESPN and ESPN2 on the WatchESPN app with Internet-connected devices, it said. Sling TV also offers Kids Extra and News & Info Extra packages for $5 a month, it said.

Inmarsat supported the International Civil Aviation Organization’s recommendations to enhance aviation safety, the company said in a news release Friday. Inmarsat recommended countries voluntarily adopt a performance-based standard for global tracking of commercial aircraft. Inmarsat said automatic dependent surveillance-contract capabilities could offer flight tracking activities, and over 90 percent of wide-bodied trans-oceanic aircraft have equipment compatible for ADS-C use.

The FCC International Bureau requested comment on the progress of the Open-Market Reorganization for the Betterment of International Telecommunications Act (Orbit Act), which was to promote a competitive global market for satellite communications services by privatizing Inmarsat and Intelsat, the bureau said in a public notice posted Wednesday in docket 15-16. The bureau is required to report annually on the Orbit Act to the House Commerce and International Relations committees and the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation, and Foreign Relations committees, the bureau said. Comments are due March 5, replies March 20.

Turkey satellite operator Turksat will use Hughes Network Systems' Jupiter high-throughput satellite ground system to enhance Turksat services in Turkey and surrounding countries in Europe and the Middle East, Hughes Europe said in a news release Tuesday. Turksat will provide high-speed Ka-band satellite services with the Jupiter ground system after it launches the Turksat 4B satellite, scheduled for early next year, Hughes said.