Dish Network plans to take a hatchet to AMC on June 30, a move that would leave satellite subscribers without geek favorites like The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad and Mad Men.

Given that The Walking Dead ranks as Dish’s most popular scripted drama, according to Nielsen Media Research, why is the satellite service dropping AMC along with sister channels Sundance, Independent Film Channel and WE tv? AMC Networks blames the pending cancellation on bad blood between the two parties dating back to 2008, when the cable network filed a $2.5 billion lawsuit against Dish for allegedly reneging on an agreement to carry AMC’s high-definition Voom HD channels.

“It is unfortunate that, in retaliation for an unrelated lawsuit, Dish is punishing its customers by threatening to drop the AMC Networks,” an AMC spokeswoman told Wired by phone. The lawsuit finally goes before a judge in September.