Echostar Corporation
Encyclopedia
EchoStar Corporation is a technology company that is the owner and maintainer of the satellite
fleet for closely affiliated Dish Network
. The company also designs and manufactures set-top box
es to receive the Freeview broadcasts in the United Kingdom, as well as receivers for Bell TV in Canada. EchoStar also owns Sling Media
, which designs and builds the Slingbox
TV streaming device, and satellite internet provider Hughes Communications
. EchoStar was formerly the parent company of Dish Network
until the unit was spun off in December 2007.
Charles Ergen as a distributor of C band
TV systems. In 1987, EchoStar 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 28 December 1995, EchoStar successfully launched its first satellite, EchoStar I. On 4 March 1996, EchoStar established the DISH Network
brand name to market
its home satellite TV system.
In 1998, EchoStar purchased the broadcasting assets of a satellite broadcasting joint venture of News Corporation's ASkyB and MCI Worldcom. With this purchase EchoStar obtained 28 of the 32 transponder licenses in the 110° W orbital slot, more than doubling existing CONUS
broadcasting capacity at a value of $682.5 million. The acquisition inspired the company to introduce a multi-satellite system called DISH 500, theoretically capable of receiving more than 500 channels on one dish.
"Legacy" represent the 950 to 1450mhz frequencies used to deliver the signal throughout the home; the signal is broadcast to the home on the Ku band from satellite (12.2 - 12.7 GHz). Ku frequencies will not work on home wiring, the signal is downconverted to the intermediate frequency (IF) of 950-1450mhz at the dish antenna. Newer Dish technology (DishPro) also uses 1650-2150mhz in addition to 950-1450.
Also in 1998, Echostar - in association with Bell Canada
- launched Dish Network Canada.
On 25 September 2007, EchoStar announced it had agreed to acquire Sling Media, Inc.
On 2 January 2008, the DISH Network business was demerged from the technology and infrastructure side of the business. A split in the shares created two companies, DISH Network Corporation which consists mainly of the DISH Network business, and EchoStar Broadcasting Corporation which retains ownership of the technology side including the satellites, Sling Media, and the set-top box development arm.
On February 14, 2011, EchoStar announced that it would acquire Hughes Communications
in a deal valued at US$
1.3 billion.
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
fleet for closely affiliated Dish Network
Dish Network
Dish Network Corporation is the second largest pay TV provider in the United States, providing direct broadcast satellite service—including satellite television, audio programming, and interactive television services—to 14.337 million commercial and residential customers in the United States. Dish...
. The company also designs and manufactures set-top box
Set-top box
A set-top box or set-top unit is an information appliance device that generally contains a tuner and connects to a television set and an external source of signal, turning the signal into content which is then displayed on the television screen or other display device.-History:Before the...
es to receive the Freeview broadcasts in the United Kingdom, as well as receivers for Bell TV in Canada. EchoStar also owns Sling Media
Sling Media
Sling Media Inc. specializes in audio and video placeshifting technology. The company is a subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation and is based in San Mateo, California...
, which designs and builds the Slingbox
Slingbox
The Slingbox is a TV streaming media device made by Sling Media that encodes video into the VC-1 format for transmission over the Internet and provides an infrared blaster. The video encoding and IR blaster can both be operated remotely over the Internet...
TV streaming device, and satellite internet provider Hughes Communications
Hughes Communications
Hughes Communications is a provider of satellite-based communications services. The company operates its satellite business through its wholly owned subsidiary, HughesNet.In 2011, Hughes was acquired by EchoStar in a deal valued at US$1.3 billion....
. EchoStar was formerly the parent company of Dish Network
Dish Network
Dish Network Corporation is the second largest pay TV provider in the United States, providing direct broadcast satellite service—including satellite television, audio programming, and interactive television services—to 14.337 million commercial and residential customers in the United States. Dish...
until the unit was spun off in December 2007.
History
EchoStar was originally formed in 1980 by its chairmanChairman of the Board
The Chairman of the Board is a seat of office in an organization, especially of corporations.Chairman of the Board may also refer to:*Chairman of the Board , a 1998 film*Chairmen of the Board , a 1970s American soul music group...
Charles Ergen as a distributor of C band
C band
The C band is a name given to certain portions of the electromagnetic spectrum, including wavelengths of microwaves that are used for long-distance radio telecommunications. The IEEE C-band - and its slight variations - contains frequency ranges that are used for many satellite communications...
TV systems. In 1987, EchoStar applied for a direct broadcast satellite
Direct broadcast satellite
Direct broadcast satellite is a term used to refer to satellite television broadcasts intended for home reception.A designation broader than DBS would be direct-to-home signals, or DTH. This has initially distinguished the transmissions directly intended for home viewers from cable television...
(DBS) license with the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
and was granted access to orbital slot 119° west longitude
Longitude
Longitude is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east-west position of a point on the Earth's surface. It is an angular measurement, usually expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds, and denoted by the Greek letter lambda ....
in 1992.
On 28 December 1995, EchoStar successfully launched its first satellite, EchoStar I. On 4 March 1996, EchoStar established the DISH Network
Dish Network
Dish Network Corporation is the second largest pay TV provider in the United States, providing direct broadcast satellite service—including satellite television, audio programming, and interactive television services—to 14.337 million commercial and residential customers in the United States. Dish...
brand name to market
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
its home satellite TV system.
In 1998, EchoStar purchased the broadcasting assets of a satellite broadcasting joint venture of News Corporation's ASkyB and MCI Worldcom. With this purchase EchoStar obtained 28 of the 32 transponder licenses in the 110° W orbital slot, more than doubling existing CONUS
Contiguous United States
The contiguous United States are the 48 U.S. states on the continent of North America that are south of Canada and north of Mexico, plus the District of Columbia....
broadcasting capacity at a value of $682.5 million. The acquisition inspired the company to introduce a multi-satellite system called DISH 500, theoretically capable of receiving more than 500 channels on one dish.
"Legacy" represent the 950 to 1450mhz frequencies used to deliver the signal throughout the home; the signal is broadcast to the home on the Ku band from satellite (12.2 - 12.7 GHz). Ku frequencies will not work on home wiring, the signal is downconverted to the intermediate frequency (IF) of 950-1450mhz at the dish antenna. Newer Dish technology (DishPro) also uses 1650-2150mhz in addition to 950-1450.
Also in 1998, Echostar - in association with Bell Canada
Bell Canada
Bell Canada is a major Canadian telecommunications company. Including its subsidiaries such as Bell Aliant, Northwestel, Télébec, and NorthernTel, it is the incumbent local exchange carrier for telephone and DSL Internet services in most of Canada east of Manitoba and in the northern territories,...
- launched Dish Network Canada.
On 25 September 2007, EchoStar announced it had agreed to acquire Sling Media, Inc.
On 2 January 2008, the DISH Network business was demerged from the technology and infrastructure side of the business. A split in the shares created two companies, DISH Network Corporation which consists mainly of the DISH Network business, and EchoStar Broadcasting Corporation which retains ownership of the technology side including the satellites, Sling Media, and the set-top box development arm.
On February 14, 2011, EchoStar announced that it would acquire Hughes Communications
Hughes Communications
Hughes Communications is a provider of satellite-based communications services. The company operates its satellite business through its wholly owned subsidiary, HughesNet.In 2011, Hughes was acquired by EchoStar in a deal valued at US$1.3 billion....
in a deal valued at US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
1.3 billion.