Satellite-television service DIRECTV dropped the sports channel Versus from its lineup overnight as a result of the dispute between the two companies, according to a report from the SportsBusiness Daily.
DIRECTV claims that Versus – which is owned by cable rival Comcast – is charging rights fees that do not reflect its market value. Versus counters by saying it is seeking "a comparable level of distribution as it does today at the same market price that other operators are paying," according to the report.
Versus is the broadcast partner of the IndyCar Series and, if the standoff continues, it would mean the final two races of the IndyCar season (at Japan's Twin Ring Motegi on Sept. 19 and Homestead-Miami Speedway on Oct. 10) would not be available to DIRECTV's 17 million-plus subscribers.