About the DISH Network
DISH Network is one of three interrelated business units of EchoStar Communications Corporation, along with EchoStar Technologies and EchoStar Satellite Services. EchoStar Technologies is the manufacturer of the satellite receivers DISH Network uses. EchoStar Satellite Services provides video, audio and data delivery services to DISH Network’s Business and Education Television customers.
EchoStar started in 1980 after the company’s chairman and CEO, Charlie Ergen, entered the satellite TV industry as a distributor of C-band satellite TV systems. Operations quickly expanded while earning a reputation as an innovative company dedicated to providing customers with state-of-the-art equipment, systems and service.
In 1987, EchoStar filed for a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) license with the Federal Communications Commission. EchoStar has six satellites in orbit and three more in production.
DISH Network has its headquarters in Littleton, Colo. It is is EchoStar's state-of-the-art direct broadcast satellite system with the capacity to offer customers over 500 channels of digital video and CD-quality audio programming using a single small satellite DISH.
DISH Network provides customer support with the help of over 7,000 DISH Network customer service representatives available by telephone or e-mail around the clock. DISH Network delivers the most popular entertainment, news, sports and international channels.
Additionally, with final passage of satellite TV legislation, DISH Network currently offers local ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX network channels, as well as popular super stations and independent network channels in some markets, to more than 60 percent of the U.S. market.
As the fastest growing DBS company, DISH Network has added over 100,000 customers each month consistently since October 1998. Customers are choosing DISH Network over cable or other satellite TV providers in record numbers due to DISH Network’s pledge to offer more channels, more choices and more movies… all at the most affordable prices.DirecTV is digital-quality television.
The programming is uplinked to a satellite then sent directly to the dish at your home. The picture and sound are much better than cable. The variety of programming is greater. DirecTV has over 225 channels with a choice of programming packages.
The satellites are in a geosynchronous orbit 22,300 miles above the equator. No adjustment of the dish is necessary to change programming.
DISH Network now offers local channels to over 90 million TV households in 44 states in the U.S., plus the District of Columbia, representing over 83 percent of the population.
DISH Network became the first satellite TV company to offer local channels with a roll-out of 13 markets in November 1999. Since then, DISH Network has invested billions of dollars in satellite technology to ensure that as many TV viewers as possible receive their local channels via DISH Network.
DISH Network serves in excess of 50 percent more local markets than any other satellite TV provider. With the lowest all digital TV package in America and launch of local channels, DISH Network added 1.3 million customers in the 12 months ending Sept. 30, 2003 -- more than all U.S. cable companies combined.
"We are pleased to reach this milestone of 100 local markets," said Rick Rahim, chief executive officer of VMC Satellite, the largest independently owned DISH Network retailer. "DISH Network will continue to pursue all avenues to find solutions that will allow us to offer Americans the chance to get their local news, sports and weather from satellite. The public is depending upon us to provide an alternative to cable television."