EchoStar Corporation
TypePublic
IndustryTelecommunication
Founded1980 (1980)
FateBought DISH Network on August 8, 2023, transaction completed on January 2, 2024.
HeadquartersInverness, Colorado, U.S.
Key people
ProductsSatellite Services
RevenueIncrease US$1.99 billion (2021)
Increase US$217 million (2021)
Increase US$62.7 million (2021)
Total assetsDecrease US$6.05 billion (2021)
Total equityDecrease US$3.41 billion (2021)
Number of employees
c. 2,500 (2021)
Subsidiaries
Websiteechostar.com
Footnotes / references
[1]

EchoStar Corporation is an American company providing satellite communication and Internet services. Its Hughes Network Systems and EchoStar Satellite Services business are operated from its headquarters in Arapahoe County, Colorado.

Prior to 2008, it operated the DISH Network service brand, which was spun off as DISH on January 1, 2008. In an industry reverse, DISH proposed to buy Echostar in 2023.[2]

History

EchoStar was originally formed in 1980 by its chairman Charles Ergen as a distributor of C band TV systems. In 1987, it applied for a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) license with the Federal Communications Commission and was granted access to orbital slot 119° west longitude in 1992.

On December 28, 1995, the firm successfully launched its first satellite, EchoStar I.[3] On March 4, 1996, it established the DISH Network brand name to market its home satellite TV system.[4]

On January 2, 2008, the DISH Network business was demerged from the technology and infrastructure side of the business. A split in the shares created two companies; the former EchoStar Communications Corporation changed its name to DISH Network Corporation[5] which consisted mainly of the DISH Network business, and EchoStar Corporation, which retained ownership of the technology side including the satellites, Sling Media, and the set-top box development arm. DISH Network completed its distribution to EchoStar of its digital set-top box business, certain infrastructure, and other assets and related liabilities, including certain of their satellites, uplink and satellite transmission assets, and real estate (the "Spin-off"). Since the Spin-off, EchoStar and DISH Network have operated as separate publicly traded companies.[6] In addition, a substantial majority of the voting power of the shares of DISH Network and EchoStar is owned beneficially by Charles W. Ergen, Chairman, and by certain trusts established by Mr. Ergen for the benefit of his family.

On February 14, 2011, EchoStar announced that it would acquire Hughes Communications in a deal valued at US$1.3 billion.[7]

On January 31, 2017, EchoStar announced that it had reached an agreement with DISH to transfer the EchoStar Technologies businesses, which designed, developed and distributed digital set-top boxes, provided satellite uplinking and broadcast services and developed and supported streaming video technology back to DISH.[8] The transaction was completed on January 31, 2017,[9] substantially returning DISH to its pre-2008 status as a set-top-box hardware manufacturer.

In March 2017, after two delays caused by weather worries, SpaceX delivered EchoStar XXIII into orbit. The satellite was launched on a Falcon 9 Rocket and provides broadcast services for Brazil.[10] Because EchoStar XXIII is a heavy satellite, this mission did not include a rocket landing post-takeoff, as it would require too much fuel. This was the first time a purely commercial satellite was launched from a pad that once served as the base for Apollo moon trips and space shuttle flights.[11][12]

On May 20, 2019, EchoStar announced[8] that it had reached an agreement with DISH Network Corporation to transfer the portion of the business which managed and provided broadcast satellite services, referred to as the BSS (Broadcast Satellite Services) business, to DISH in order to concentrate on broadband services and other initiatives. The transaction was completed on September 10, 2019.[13]

On August 8, 2023, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Ergen was proposing a merger between Dish and EchoStar.[14] Later that day, the acquisition was formally announced by both companies.[15] On January 2, 2024, it was announced that the transaction had been completed on December 31, 2023.[16]

Satellite fleet

Orbital locations may change

Since EchoStar frequently moves satellites among its many orbiting slots this list is not necessarily up-to-date.

EchoStar satellites
SatelliteLocationLaunch dateLauncherSatellite bus
EchoStar IX (Galaxy 23)121° WAugust 8, 2003Zenit_3SLFS-1300
EchoStar X110° WFebruary 15, 2006Zenit_3SLA2100AXS
EchoStar XV61.5° WJuly 10, 2010Proton-M/Briz-MLS-1300
EchoStar XVII (Jupiter 1)107.0° WJuly 5, 2012Ariane 5LS-1300
EchoStar XVI61.5° WNovember 20, 2012Proton-M/Briz-MLS-1300
EchoStar XIX (Jupiter 2)97.1° WDecember 18, 2016Atlas VSSL 1300
EchoStar XXIII109.9° WMarch 16, 2017Falcon 9SSL 1300
SES-11105.0° WOctober 11, 2017Falcon 9Eurostar E3000
EchoStar XXIV (Jupiter 3)105.2° WJuly 29, 2023Falcon HeavySSL 1300

References

  1. ↑ "EchoStar Corporation 2021 Annual Report (Form 10-K)". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. February 24, 2022. Archived from the original on January 2, 2024.
  2. ↑ Moritz, Scott (August 8, 2023). "Dish to Buy EchoStar as Ergen's TV Empire Shifts to Wireless". Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on January 2, 2024. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  3. ↑ Ford, Dominic. "ECHOSTAR 1". in-the-sky.org. Archived from the original on October 11, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  4. ↑ Hogan, Monica (March 18, 2006). "EchoStar Toasts a Decade of Dish Network". Multichannel News. Archived from the original on October 16, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  5. ↑ "SEC Filing". ir.dish.com. Archived from the original on October 11, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  6. ↑ Savitz, Eric. "EchoStar Completes Spinoff; Worth More In Parts?". www.barrons.com. Dow Jones & Company. Archived from the original on October 11, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  7. ↑ de la Merced, Michael J. (February 14, 2011). "EchoStar in $1.3 Billion Deal for Hughes Communications". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 2, 2024.
  8. 1 2 "EchoStar Announces Agreement to Transfer BSS Business to DISH" (Press release). EchoStar Corporation. May 20, 2019. Archived from the original on October 16, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  9. ↑ "EchoStar Announces Exchange Agreement for Tracking Stock" (Press release). EchoStar Corporation. January 31, 2017. Archived from the original on October 16, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  10. ↑ Foust, Jeff (March 16, 2017). "SpaceX launches EchoStar 23". SpaceNews. Archived from the original on January 2, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  11. ↑ Grush, Loren (March 13, 2017). "SpaceX successfully launched a communications satellite on its Falcon 9 rocket". The Verge. Archived from the original on October 5, 2022. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  12. ↑ Boyle, Alan (March 16, 2017). "After delay, SpaceX launches EchoStar satellite – but forgoes rocket landing". GeekWire. Archived from the original on March 16, 2017. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  13. ↑ "EchoStar Announces Completion of the Spin-Off and Merger of its BSS Business" (Press release). EchoStar Corporation. September 10, 2019. Archived from the original on October 1, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  14. ↑ Wprin, Alex; Szalai, George. "Charlie Ergen Wants to Reunite His Telecom Empire Via All-Stock Merger of Dish Network and EchoStar". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 17, 2023.
  15. ↑ "DISH Network Corporation and EchoStar Corporation to Combine" (Press release). Dish Network. August 8, 2023. Archived from the original on January 2, 2024.
  16. ↑ "EchoStar Corporation Completes Merger with DISH Network Corporation" (Press release). Echostar Corporation. January 2, 2024. Archived from the original on January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2024 – via PR Newswire.
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