EchoStar Communications Corporation is the parent company of DISH Network and the maintainer of the satellite fleet that provides the signal which DISH Network markets.

History

EchoStar was formed in 1980 by its chairman and CEO Charlie Ergen as a distributer 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.

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

External link

• EchoStar homepage