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Sony’s Plan to Release ‘The Interview’ On Dish Network Falls Apart

Dish Chairman Charlie Ergen declined the deal for unspecified reasons, Fox reports

| December 22, 2014 @ 1:25 PM

Sony Pictures

A plan to distribute “The Interview” over Dish Network fell apart after talks between Sony and the satellite TV provider broke down over the weekend.

According to Fox Business Network, the Seth Rogen-James Franco comedy at the center of the Sony hacking could have been streamed into living rooms as early as Christmas Day.

However, Dish Network Chairman Charlie Ergen declined the deal for unspecified reasons.

Sony declined to TheWrap‘s request for comment.

Also Read: Sony Hack Attack Timeline: From First Cyberbreach and Leaks to ‘The Interview’ Dropped (Photos)

Dish emerged as a possible distribution partner after Sony pulled the film from its originally intended theatrical release on Christmas Day following threats from hackers of physical violence on any theaters that showed the movie.

Sony CEO Michael Lynton has since come out to pledge that his studio has every intention of releasing the film. “There are a number of options open to us and we have considered those and are considering them,” he told CNN on Friday.

Also Read: Art House Theaters Tell Sony They Want to Show ‘The Interview’

Meanwhile, the Art House Convergence, a national coalition of smaller, independent movie theaters, on Monday told Sony Pictures that its members are willing and anxious to screen “The Interview.”

The group sent its message in an open letter to Lynton and Amy Pascal, pledging its support for them and the company’s employees targeted in the November hack attack.

Also Read: Sony Hack Attack: 15 Newest Developments Since North Korea Named as Culprit

“Circumstance has propelled ‘The Interview’ into a spotlight on values, both societal and artistic, and in honor of our support, we want to offer our help in a way that honors our long tradition of defending creative expression,” said Russ Collins, the group’s director.

Included in the letter was a link to a petition urging other independent theater owners to tell Sony that they would screen the film as well.

Also Read: Sony Hack: North Korea Suffering Internet Outages (Report)

“We understand there are risks involved in screening ‘The Interview.’ We will communicate these risks as clearly as we can to our employees and customers and allow them to make their own decisions, as is the right of every American,” the letter said.

The nation’s largest theater chains said that they would not screen the film after the terror threat, and Sony hours later scrapped its release. Subsequently, Sony’s Lynton has said that when the major chains pulled out, the studio had no choice but to cancel.

Also Read: Insider: Sony Denies NY Post Story Claiming It Will Release ‘The Interview’ on Crackle

On Friday, the FBI concluded North Korea was responsible for the hacking.

President Obama called the hacking “cybervandalism,” but stopped short of calling it an act of war. For its part, North Korea has denied involvement and turned the tables in the war of words, threatening retaliation.

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Sony Hack Attack Timeline: From First Cyberbreach and Leaks to 'The Interview' Release (Photos)

  • Michael Lynton The Grill
  • sony hack email nightmare
  • Sony Pictures
  • Sony
  • James Franco, Seth Rogen, "The Interview"
  • James Franco, Seth Rogen
  • Amy Pascal and Michael Lynton
  • Sony Chiefs Amy Pascal, Michael Lynton 'Deeply Saddened' Over Hacking Attack
  • Sony Pictures
  • Sony's logo on a wall
  • "hacked by #GOP" message found on Sony computers
  • Sony's logo on a wall
  • Sony Chiefs Amy Pascal, Michael Lynton 'Deeply Saddened' Over Hacking Attack
  • Tom Hanks
  • Amy Pascal, Steve Mosko of Sony
  • Sony's logo on a wall
  • Sony Marketing Layoffs
  • Sony Pictures
  • Movie posters for the premiere of the film 'The Interview' at The Theatre at Ace Hotel in Los Angeles, California on December 11, 2014. The film, starring US actors Seth Rogen and James Franco, is a comedy about a CIA plot to assassinate its leader Kim Jong-Un, played by Randall Park. North Korea has vowed 'merciless retaliation' against what it calls a 'wanton act of terror' -- although it has denied involvement in a massive cyber attack on Sony Pictures, the studio behind the film. AFP PHOTO/STR (Photo Credit: Getty Images)
  • The Throwaways
  • Skyfall Daniel Craig James Bond 25
  • sony hack email nightmare
  • ArcLight Cinemas
  • Sony Chiefs Amy Pascal, Michael Lynton 'Deeply Saddened' Over Hacking Attack
  • Sony's logo on a wall
  • The Interview movie poster, Sony logo, President Obama
  • the interview hollywood tweets
  • Team America World Police
  • The Interview movie poster, Sony logo, President Obama
  • Mike Myers as Dr. Evil on "The Interview."
  • reince priebus chief of staff donald trump health care bill punt end zone football twitter
  • Sony attorney David Boies
  • sony hack email nightmare
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As Sony CEO Michael Lynton prepares to exit, here’s TheWrap’s blow-by-blow of 2014’s devastating cyberattack on the studio

As Sony CEO Michael Lynton announces his resignation, let's look back at one of the darkest periods of his tenure: the Sony hack. 

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