Dish Network

After the spin-off, the company pursued further acquisitions and business initiatives, including acquiring video rental chain Blockbuster in an attempt to compete with Netflix, releasing a new set-top digital video recorder (DVR) with the controversial ability to automatically skip commercials in recordings.

In 2020, the company acquired the mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) Boost Mobile from Sprint Corporation as part of its merger with T-Mobile US, announcing an intent to develop a national 5G network in order to supplant Sprint as a fourth major carrier.

[2] In 1987, EchoStar applied for a satellite television broadcast license with the FCC and was granted access to orbital slot 119° west longitude in 1992.

[4][5][6][7] Joseph Clayton became president and chief executive officer of the company in June 2011, while Charlie Ergen remained chairman.

[18] In January 2013, DISH bid $5 billion for Clearwire to add wireless internet and mobile video services.

[28] In June 2019, nonetheless, DISH TV accepted to resign its satellite exploration rights assigned to EchoStar and thus ending the possibility of entering the Brazilian market.

After the merger was approved by the Justice Department, DISH stated that it intended to supplant Sprint as a fourth major national wireless carrier, and had committed to building out a 5G network serving at least 70% of the U.S. population by June 2023.

[32] DISH stated intentions to offer branded postpaid service in the future with the build-out of their own network.

[39] In May 2022, DISH Wireless began to launch its self-developed 5G network, codenamed "Project Genesis", in Las Vegas; the company stated that it planned to serve at least 120 cities by the June 2023 deadline.

[41] In December 2022, DISH Wireless launched a postpaid service under the spin-off brand Boost Infinite.

[43] In August 2023, EchoStar announced that it would acquire DISH Network in an all-stock purchase, undoing their previous split.

As Ergen already held 90% of the voting stock in both companies, the FCC considered the "acquisition" to be a reorganization of assets with no change in effective control.

EchoStar CEO Hamid Akhavan stated that the agreement would allow the company to place a larger focus on expanding its wireless Boost Mobile network.

[49] DISH and its subsidiaries have faced legal action for some of its questionable practices, including fines for telemarketing tactics such as failure to disclose fees with full transparency.

[50][51][52][53] In 2012, DISH and a group of the United States' major television networks filed lawsuits over "AutoHop", a feature in its recently-released Hopper set-top boxes that allowed users to detect and automatically skip commercials in their recordings.

[54][55] DISH later reached agreements with ABC, CBS, and Fox, under which it agreed to disable the feature for a certain window of time after a program's first airing.

The contract of the entire MSG Network had ended on October 1, 2010, early; CSN New England was dropped on August 6, 2014.

[67] In February 2023, Dish Network suffered a major ransomware attack which resulted in internal outages, loss of service at subsidiary companies such as Boost Mobile, and data theft.

[71] In the aftermath of the ransomware attack, Dish Network was criticized for lack of transparency or communication with its customers.

On September 27, 2012, DISH Network announced a satellite broadband service called DishNET, aimed at rural areas where cable is often not available.

In September 2021, it announced a partnership with Input Output Global (formerly known as IOHK) to build subscription services based on the Cardano blockchain.

[76] The following month it set up a system to expand 5G mobile network through customers using the Citizens Broadband Radio Service with rewards paid in cryptocurrency.

[79] The company has engaged in disaster relief efforts, including after Hurricanes Katrina, Harvey, Irma, and Maria.

[105] In 2014, DISH Network began to reach carriage deals with broadcasters for a new over-the-top service that would be aimed towards cord cutters as a low-cost alternative to traditional pay television.

Original logo as EchoStar Communications used from 1980 to 2007.
Dish Network brand logo used by EchoStar from 2000–2005.
Logo used by DISH Wireless prior to its discontinuance as a distinct brand.
Falcon 9 Rocket Booster opened for general public at Dish Network's Littleton, CO office is a type of reusable rocket that SpaceX used for repeated launches
Falcon 9 Rocket Booster opened for general public at Dish Network's Littleton , CO office is a type of reusable rocket that SpaceX used for repeated launches [ 78 ]
DISH HD, newest version used with the Hopper and Joey system