Echostar Corporation
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EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS) is a technology company that is the owner and maintainer of the satellite fleet that provides the signal that DISH Network markets. The company also designs and manufactures set-top boxes to receive the Freeview (DVB-T) broadcasts in the United Kingdom, as well as receivers for Bell ExpressVu, and owns Sling Media (producers of the Slingbox TV streaming device)
The company was formerly part of EchoStar Communications Corporation before DISH Network was separated in December 2007.
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[edit] History
EchoStar was originally formed in 1980 by its chairman and CEO Charlie 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. That same year, 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. In the same year, 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 Corporation which retains ownership of the technology side including the satellites, Sling media, and the set-top box development arm.
[edit] Satellite fleet
Orbital Locations Vary
Since EchoStar frequently moves satellites among its many orbiting slots this list is not immediately accurate.
Refer to Lyngsat.com for detailed satellite information.
| Satellite | Location | Launched | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EchoStar I | 148° W | 1995, 28 December | Lockheed Martin Astro Space Series 7000 (AS-7000) | |
| EchoStar II | 148° W | 1996, 10 September | Lockheed Martin Astro Space Series 7000 (AS-7000) | |
| EchoStar III | 61.50° W | 1997, 5 October | Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space A2100AX | |
| EchoStar IV | 77° W (incline) |
1998, 8 May | Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space A2100AX | EchoStar IV at 77° W is not licensed to serve customers in the United States. EchoStar has placed the satellite in this Mexican controlled orbital slot to serve future DBS customers in Mexico. |
| EchoStar V | 129° W | 1999, 23 September | Space Systems/Loral FS-1300 | EchoStar V is still active at 129 (national HD and local HD and SD stations) |
| EchoStar VI | 110° W | 2000, 14 July | Space Systems/Loral FS-1300 | |
| EchoStar VII | 119° W | 2002, 21 February | Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space A2100AX | |
| EchoStar VIII | 110° W | 2002, 21 August | Space Systems/Loral FS-1300 | |
| EchoStar IX/ Galaxy 23 | 121° W | 2003, 7 August | Space Systems/Loral FS-1300 | Customers use SuperDISH 121 to receive this non-DBS, medium-powered signal. Satellite is jointly owned by EchoStar and Intelsat. The Ku band is owned by EchoStar. Ka band payload owned by EchoStar and not currently in use. C band payload owned by Intelsat and is known as Galaxy 23. Non-DBS |
| EchoStar X | 110° W | 2006, 15 February | Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space A2100AX | |
| Echostar XII/ Rainbow 1 | 61.5° W | 2003, 17 July | Lockheed-Martin AS-2100 | Rainbow 1 was launched by Cablevision/Rainbow DBS and used for the Voom DBS service at 61.5° W until the satellite and transponder licenses were sold to EchoStar in 2005. March 2006 saw DISH Network rename it to EchoStar 12. It is co-located with EchoStar III at 61.5° W. |
| EchoStar XI | TBD | TDB 2008 | Space Systems/Loral FS-1300 | Announced 2006, 9 May |
