EchoStar Communications Corporation
From Free net encyclopedia
EchoStar Communications Corporation (Template:Nasdaq) is the parent company of Dish Network and the maintainer of the satellite fleet that provides the signal that Dish Network markets. The company also designs and manufactures set-top boxes to recieve the Freeview (DVB-T) broadcasts in the United Kingdom, as well as generic DVB-S receivers.
History
EchoStar was 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 December 28, 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 January 2005, EchoStar bought a satellite from the troubled HDTV DBS company Voom. On April 29, EchoStar announced that it would expand its HDTV programming by adding the first 10 of 21 original Voom channels [1].
Satellite fleet
| Satellite | Orbital slot | Launch date | Satellite type |
|---|---|---|---|
| EchoStar I | 148°W | December 28, 1995 | Lockheed Martin AS-7000 |
| EchoStar II | 148°W | September 10, 1996 | Lockheed Martin AS-7000 |
| EchoStar III | 61.5°W | October 5, 1997 | Lockheed Martin A2100AX |
| EchoStar IV | 119°W | May 8, 1998 | Lockheed Martin A2100AX |
| EchoStar V | 110°W | September 23, 1999 | Space Systems/Loral LS-1300 |
| EchoStar VI | 119°W | July 14, 2000 | Space Systems/Loral LS-1300 |
| EchoStar VII | 119°W | Feb. 21, 2002 | Lockheed Martin A2100AX |
| EchoStar VIII | 110°W | Aug. 21, 2002 | Space Systems/Loral LS-1300 |
| EchoStar IX | 121°W | August 7, 2003 | Space Systems/Loral LS-1300 |
| EchoStar X | 110°W | (est.) late 2005/early 2006 | Lockheed Martin A2100AX |
| EchoStar XI | TBD | (est.) 2007 | Space Systems/Loral LS-1300 |