Full Description

DISH Network Corporation (DISH Network), is a pay-television (TV) provider, across the United States. DISH Network services provide programming which includes more than 280 basic video channels, 60 Sirius Satellite Radio music channels, 30 movie channels, 35 regional and specialty sports channels, 2,100 local channels, 200 Latino and international channels, and 50 channels of pay-per-view content. As of December 31, 2008, the Company had approximately 13.678 million subscribers. The Company offers a range of selection of local and national programming, featuring more national and local high-definition (HD) channels than other pay-TV providers and the only HD-only programming packages. On January 1, 2008, the Company completed the Spin-off of its technology and certain infrastructure assets into a separate publicly-traded company, EchoStar Corporation (EchoStar).

DISH Network distributes over 2,100 local channels, a subscriber typically may only receive the local channels available in the subscriber’s home market. As of December 31, 2008, it also provided local HD channels in over 90 markets representing 78% of United States TV households as well as over 120 national HD channels. The Company’s subscribers receive programming in-home equipment that includes a small satellite dish, digital set-top receivers and remote controls. The principal digital broadcast operations centers DISH Network uses are EchoStar’s facilities located in Cheyenne, Wyoming and Gilbert, Arizona. It also uses six regional digital broadcast operations centers owned and operated by EchoStar that allows for the use of the spot beam capabilities of certain owned and leased satellites. Programming content is received at these centers by fiber or satellite and processed, compressed, encrypted and then uplinked to satellites for delivery to consumers.

The DISH Network programming is currently delivered to customers using satellites that operate in the Ku band portion of the microwave radio spectrum. The Ku-band is divided into two spectrum segments. The portion of the Ku-band that allows the use of higher power satellites 12.2 to 12.7 Gigahertz over the United States is known as the Broadcast Satellite Service (BSS) band, which is also referred to as the Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) band. The portion of the Ku-band that requires lower power satellites, 11.7 to 12.2 Gigahertz over the United States is known as the Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) band. DISH Network offers receiver systems and programming through direct sales channels, independent retailers such as small satellite retailers, direct marketing groups, local and regional consumer electronics stores, nationwide retailers and telecommunications companies.

The Company competes with DirecTV.