Israel cable companies reach agreement to continue broadcasting CNN

JERUSALEM - Officials from both sides said Wednesday that Israel cable TV companies will not drop the CNN news channel at the end of October as previously announced. <br> <br> A contract between Israeli cable companies and Turner Broadcasting, the owner of CNN, was set to expire October 31, as some Israelis charged the network and other foreign outlets of slanting their coverage of the Mideast conflict in favor of the Palestinians. <br> <br> However, the cable companies said they planned to drop the channel for financial reasons, saying they could no longer afford it. Industry insiders said the political card was being played in what was largely a business negotiation. CNN officials complained they were being used as scapegoats for Israeli displeasure over news coverage. <br> <br> According to the Israeli Globes business daily, the cable companies paid $2.8 million per year under a five-year contract.

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