DISH Network LLC, often referred to as DISH, an abbreviation for Digital Sky Highway,[1] formerly EchoStar Communications Corporation and DISH Network Corporation, is an American provider of satellite television and IPTV services and wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation.
The company operates 4 office locations, 3 in Colorado, 1 in Arizona, including locations in Englewood (its headquarters), Denver, Littleton, and Phoenix.[2]
The company was originally established as EchoStar Communications, and first launched its satellite television services under the DISH Network brand in 1996, utilizing its EchoStar I satellite. In 2007, EchoStar spun off its infrastructural business and the brand itself under a separate entity under the EchoStar name with the existing company rebranding to DISH Network Corporation. Both companies would remain under the control of EchoStar's co-founder Charlie Ergen.
After the spin-off, the company pursued further acquisitions and business initiatives, including acquiring video rental chain Blockbuster in an attempt to compete with Netflix, releasing a new set-top digital video recorder (DVR) with the controversial ability to automatically skip commercials in recordings. In 2015, the company launched over-the-top IPTV services via the new subsidiary Sling TV. In 2020, the company acquired the mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) Boost Mobile from Sprint Corporation as part of its merger with T-Mobile US, announcing an intent to develop a national 5G network in order to supplant Sprint as a fourth major carrier.
In 2023, DISH Network was merged back into EchoStar in an all-stock transaction.
History
Founding, early growth and launch of DBS services
The company was formed in 1980 as EchoStar Communications by Charlie Ergen, Candy Ergen, and Jim DeFranco, as a distributor of C-band satellite television systems.[3] In 1987, EchoStar applied for a satellite television broadcast license with the FCC and was granted access to orbital slot 119° west longitude in 1992. A year after the launch of its first satellite, EchoStar I,[4] EchoStar launched its DBS broadcast services under the DISH Network name on March 4, 1996.[1] That launch marked the beginning of its television services under a subscription business model.
Spin-off of infrastructural assets
Criticism and legal issues
DISH and its subsidiaries have faced legal action for some of its questionable practices, including fines for telemarketing tactics such as failure to disclose fees with full transparency.[52][53][54][55] In 2012, DISH and a group of the United States' major television networks filed lawsuits over "AutoHop", a feature in its recently released Hopper set-top boxes that allowed users to detect and automatically skip commercials in their recordings.[56][57] DISH later reached agreements with ABC, CBS, and Fox, under which it agreed to disable the feature for a certain window of time after a program's first airing.[58]
Services and devices
DISH's main service is satellite television and its offerings are comparable to other satellite and cable companies. Viewers can choose from a series of service bundles, paying more money for more channels. A la carte programming is available, however limited to premium channels such as HBO or Showtime. The company is currently working on diversifying its offerings. With its purchase of Blockbuster LLC, DISH owns the Blockbuster trademarks and has used its intellectual property agreement to offer streaming and mail-order video services.
DishNET
On September 27, 2012, DISH Network announced a satellite broadband service called DishNET, aimed at rural areas where cable is often not available.[76]
OnTech Smart Services
DISH launched the direct-to-consumer smart home technology brand OnTech Smart Services in 2019; initially available in 11 metropolitan areas, the brand offers smart home devices and installation services.[77]
Technical information
Both a standard receiver and a receiver with built-in digital video recorder (DVR) were available to subscribers.[85] The DISH Network ViP722 HD DVR replacement for the ViP622 received generally positive reviews.[86] It could record up to 350 hours of standard-definition (SD) broadcasts, or 55 hours of high-definition (HD). These set-top boxes (STBs) allow for HD on the primary TV and SD on the secondary TV (TV2) without a secondary box on TV2.
Receivers and devices
Earlier satellite dishes
DISH Network's first satellite antenna was simply called the "DISH Network" dish. It was retroactively named the "DISH 300" when legal and satellite problems forced delays of the forthcoming DISH 500 systems. It uses one LNB to obtain signals from the 119°W orbital location,[87]
Cable TV and Satellite internet partner(s)
Source:[116]
Fiber Internet
- CenturyLink
- Earthlink
- Frontier Communications
- Cox Communications
- Windstream
xDSL
- CenturyLink
See also
- Bell Satellite TV, formerly Dish Network Canada
- Boost Infinite
- Dish México
- DishHD (subsidiary Dish HD Asia serves China and Taiwan)
- List of multiple-system operators
- List of United States pay television channels
External links
References
- The Scoop on the Dish Los Angeles Times, September 7, 1996^
- DISH Network Corporate Headquarters, Office Locations and Addresses craft.co, retrieved 2025-09-23^
- Marc Gunther. The Charlie Ergen Show Echostar's founder is one tough operator who will soon take control of the satellite TV industry—if Washington lets him.