EchoStar has confirmed that it is in discussions with its Dish debt-holders in a move to reduce its financial obligations. The debt-holders control 82 per cent of the debt securities issued by Dish, the EchoStar pay-TV subsidiary. The agreement being negotiated adds financial flexibility and strategic optionality for the company, including increased flexibility to engage […]
EchoStar has paid down $1.8 billion (€1.5bn) in debts owned to various creditors. The payments settle 82 per cent of the debts incurred by EchoStar and its Dish direct-to-home pay-TV operation. More than 96 per cent of stakeholders supported the plan. As a result, DISH DBS now faces no long-term debt maturities until July this […]
Hemisphere Media Group and Entravision announced a strategic partnership to launch WAPA Orlando, a new full power broadcast television station with programming to serve the Orlando–Daytona Beach–Melbourne DMA. WAPA Orlando started broadcasting today on Entravision’s WOTF (Channel 26). Powered by Entravision’s local broadcasting expertise, WAPA Orlando will be carried by multichannel video programming distributors throughout the Orlando–Daytona […]
Satellite TV has been a game-changer for homes in even the most remote areas in America. What used to be a frustrating experience with limited channels and routine outages has turned into a highly smooth and interactive one, thanks to providers like DISH and DirecTV. Both these providers are leaders in the satellite TV space, […]
Financial discussions about a potential merger between the two declining DTH operators over North America could be on again. Indeed, those discussions have gone on for years and despite changes in ownership of DirecTV and enthusiasm from Charlie Ergen, founder of EchoStar/Dish Network, have come to nothing. But comments last week within Investor’s Business Daily […]
Charlie Ergen, founder and chairman of the EchoStar/DISH combination, is reported to be negotiating with some of the company’s bond and debt-holders for extensions to its debt payment obligations. However, some debt interest payment obligations have – or are about to be – met. But there are still challenges. For example, the FCC is pushing […]
Charlie Ergen’s EchoStar share price rocketed 43 per cent on June 13th on news that Donald Trump has intervened with FCC chair Brendan Carr over the dispute between the FCC and EchoStar. June 16th saw EchoStar’s share price (Nasdaq:SATS) finish the day at $25.11 (€21.72). A week ago they were $15.99. In a nutshell, the […]
The Charlie Ergen-backed pay-TV operation EchoStar, which includes DISH as well as Hughes Network Systems, is reportedly contemplating the option of filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. EchoStar firmly denies the report, which originated in The WSJ. This move is perhaps a last-ditch part of the company’s strategy to protect its valuable wireless spectrum licences, which […]
Charlie Ergen-backed Dish Network has sold off its fibre division. Mereo Networks has acquired Dish Fibre Internet LLC for an undisclosed sum. Dish Fiber is a bulk fibre internet and video content provider serving over 25,000 residential units across 33 US states. The deal will strengthen Mereo’s target growth markets in the Sun Belt, Mountain […]
Charlie Ergen’s EchoStar satellite operation, despite losing subscribers on its Hughes Network Systems subsidiary, seems committed to launching its own Low Earth Orbiting fleet of satellites. EchoStar Corp CEO Hamid Akhavan has spoken in the past that Direct-To-Device connectivity from satellite to consumers is a huge opportunity. Now, in releasing the company’s full-year results, he […]