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- Dish Network History-
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Dish Network at a Glance
Stock quote: DISH $28.57 (-0.02)
Headquarters: Englewood, Colorado
Date of launch: March 1996
Satellites in service: 13
Available satellite channels:500+
Estimated subscribers:13.5 Million+
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Dish Network is the second largest direct
broadcast (DBS) provider in the United States. Dish Network
currently delivers more than 500 channels of digital programming
to over 13.5 million homes and businesses in the United States, including over 174 local channel markets in the USA.
Early History
Dish Network, which is the register operating name for Echostar Communications Corp., is a true American success story, transforming a small town satellite retailer into a world-class satellite broadcaster. Echostar was founded in 1980 by Colorado entrepreneur Charles (Charlie) Ergen, his wife Cantey Ergen and family friend James DeFranco. It began as a small C-band satellite TV retailer in Colorado, expanding into a state of the art manufacturer of satellite receiving equipment.
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Original Echostar 3000 32 bit system as debuted in 1996, offered far greater speed and features compared to competing RCA DSS 8 bit systems. System price was later reduced to $199 in a first of its kind Dish Network promotion, which paved the way for Dish Network to acquire its 1 millionth customer by the end of 1997.
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Echostar foresaw a need for a national direct to home satellite service early on, applying for a direct broadcast license from the FCC in 1987. The license was granted and in 1992, the FCC awarded Echostar a coveted 119° orbital location for a future satellite. Echostar immediately went to work to raise capital for the new venture. By 1994, Echostar was able to raise enough to fund the construction and launch of 2 new DBS satellites as well as construction of a new satellite uplink center in Cheyenne , Wyoming. Construction of 2 Lockheed Martin 7000 series commercial satellite began in early 1994. On November 14, 1994 Echostar broke ground and began construction of their first satellite uplink center.
December 28, 1995 saw Echostar's first satellite, dubbed "Echostar I" was successfully launched from Xichang , China to be inserted into orbit at 119° W.L.. At the time, the satellite was the most powerful commercial satellite of its kind, offering 16 DBS band Ku transponders, each with the output of 130 watts. This would allow a small satellite receiving dish size of 18". March 16, 1996 saw the first public broadcast of Dish Network offering a limited lineup of 40+ digital video channels in addition to 30 digital audio channels in a package called "America's Top 40" for a low monthly most of $19.95.
A Very Different Vision
Echostar's claim to fame, became low cost programming, which was up to 20% less than the competing Directv service offered. While competing satellite broadcaster Directv promoted its services as a premium satellite programming provider and to remote customers unserved by cable vision, Echostar's low cost programming was targeted at the mainstream cable vision providers, even to those in major metropolitan areas. Dish Network also offered more channels, better quality and less cost than cable vision, which almost immediately began anti-satellite campaign's nationwide in response. The approach was clearly a success as Echostar officially reached 100 000 subscribers by Mid-July of 1996, faster than any other DBS provider.
In August of 1996, Echostar shook up the satellite industry with an historic promotion, offering their satellite equipment for an unheard of price of $199 when subscriber agreed to a years worth of America's Top 40. Prior to this, the average cost of a new satellite system was $700+ installation. Echostar clearly had an advantage over its rivals as it controlled both the programming as well as the equipment. Competing Directv/USSB had no control over equipment, which was manufactured by Thompson under the RCA brand name. This prevented them from competing on system price for some time.
September 10, 1996, saw another historic satellite launch as Echostar II was successful inserted into geo-synchronous orbit 22 300 miles above the Earth. Echostar II began commercial operations on November 1, 1996, allowing Dish Network to expand their channel capacity through the doubling of it available satellite capacity.
All Eyes on Echostar
Echostar's success caught of the attention of billionaire business mogul Rupert Murdock's News Corp., who began negotiations with Echostar in early 1997 for a possible merger. News Corp. had a number of successful European DTH ventures operating under the SKY brand name. News also brought MCI to the table, which had a year previous bid $682 million and won a coveted full-conus satellite location at 110° W.L. News Corp. was looking for a way to capitalize on the North American Market. It seemed like a perfect fit, as Echostar was an ambitious company that was in need of further financing in order to continue operations as well as launch a number of new satellites in the future. In February 1997, Echostar announced a pending $1 Billion merger that would allow Echostar to eventually offer more than 500 channels to its subscribers. It was a deal that would allow Echostar to retain 50% control, while MCI and News Corp. together would assume the other 50%. The deal gave Echostar control over the 110° orbital location, however it would fall apart some time later due to a management dispute between Echostar and News Corp. Although Echostar had lost a huge financing opportunity, it had gained the 110° satellite location in the process. This would allow Echostar to dramatically increase its core programming offerings with a future satellite launch with a new satellite dish, designed to receive the 119° and 110° satellites on one dish.
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The failed $1 Billion Echostar/News Corp. merger, announced in 1997, would have been the first to make the 500 channel tv universe, long promised by cable vision a reality. The deal failed, forcing Echostar to pursue a similar, modified plan.
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In 2002, Echostar proposed an ambitious takeover bid of Hughes Electronics, which owned the Directv satellite venture. The takeover would have given Echostar a virtual monopoly in the DTH satellite market. After more than a year of speculations, the bid was officially blocked by U.S. federal regulators for fear of monopolistic abuse. Hughes and its Directv unit were later acquired by News Corp., which finally gave them the entrance into the North American DBS market that they had sought since 1996.
The failed takeover bid forced Echostar to re-evaluate its future and to get back on track.
The Most Satellite Capacity in North America
September 11, 1997 saw the launch of Echostar's third satellite, a Lockheed Martin A2100AX for insertion at the half-continental US orbital location of 61.5° W.L. for service to the Eastern USA. This satellite would be the cornerstone of Echostar's dream of overcoming one of their largest drawbacks, the lack of local channel programming. Echostar's would soon become the first DBS satellite company to deliver local channels to selected Eastern U.S. markets. Echostar IV is launched in May 1998 for the half-conus 148° location designed to service the Western U.S. with local channel programming.
Echostar V would follow in September 1999 for final orbit at the 110° orbital location. This would be used for core programming and HDTV. 4 additional satellites, Echostar VI, VII, VIII, IX, X would follow in 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2006. Echostar XI, a FSS-Ku satellite is also scheduled for a late 2007 launch. Echostar XIV, a high powered DBS band satellite is currently under construction with expected completion in 2009 and tentatively planned for a 2010 launch.
Between 1995 and today, Echostar has launched a total of 10
high powered commercial satellites into orbit, while controlling capacity on a further 3 FSS Ku-band satellites already in orbit.
This gives Echostar the most capacity of any satellite broadcaster
in North America. Currently, Echostar controls orbital slots at 61.5 degrees, 77 degrees, 105 degrees, 110 degrees, 118.75 degrees, 119 degrees, 121 degrees, 129 degrees, 148 degrees as well as 157 degrees.
Echostar also has applications before the FCC for allocation of several non-traditional Ku and Ka frequencies in
which they hope to be awarded for use in the future.
Overall Dish Network Satellite Coverage Map
Echostar's Satellite Fleet
Echostar's satellites have been moved around since their initial launch. They currently control 8 orbital locations with their own satellites:
- 61.5° W.L. - Echostar III, Echostar XII (Rainbow I) (Locals, HDTV, VOOM, Sky Angel)
- 77° W.L. - Echostar IV (Future Latin American, U.S. Service)
- 105° W.L. - AMC-15 (Locals - Leased FSS-Ku Satellite)
- 110° W.L. - Echostar X, VIII, VI (Core programming, locals, HDTV)
- 118.75° W.L. - Anik F-3 (International, locals - Leased FSS-Ku Satellite)
- 119° W.L. - Echostar VII (Core programming)
- 121° W.L. - Echostar IX (Locals, International - FSS-Ku Satellite)
- 129° W.L. - Echostar V (Locals, HDTV)
- 148° W.L. - Echostar I, II (Locals, HDTV, International)
- 157° W.L. - Allocated to Echostar, currently vacant.
- 61.9° W.L. - FCC application for BSS "Reverse DBS" satellite construction and launch
- 77.2° W.L. - FCC application for BSS "Reverse DBS" satellite construction and launch
- 86.5° W.L. - Authorized for construction of a BSS-band satellite (launch approval pending)
- 97° W.L. - FCC application for FSS-Ka satellite construction and launch.
- 110° W.L. - Echostar XI late 2007 launch will replace Echostar VI, VIII at 110°
- 110° W.L. - FCC application for BSS "Reverse DBS" satellite construction and launch
- 113° W.L. - FCC application for FSS-Ka satellite construction and launch.
- 114.5° W.L. - FCC application for BSS "Reverse DBS" satellite construction and launch
- 119° W.L. - FCC application for BSS "Reverse DBS" satellite construction and launch
- 125° W.L. - FCC application for FSS-Ka satellite construction and launch.
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U.S. Dish Network digital satellite system with 18" satellite dish and receiver.
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Broadcast Technology
The Dish Network broadcast center is located on a 50 acre site in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The 160 000 sq. ft facility receives programming content, digitizes it and uplinks it to Echostar's fleet of orbiting satellites 22 300 miles above the Earth. Dish Network uses MPEG-2 DVB for most of its digital content, including most of its nationwide high definition programming. Newer high definition channels, including most local channels in high definition are broadcast in the newer MPEG-4 format, which allows a greater compression scheme, which allows more channels per transponder/satellite.
Satellite Technology
Dish Network's fleet of 13 satellites are located in geo-stationary orbit 22 300 miles above the Earth. These currently consist of 2 separate classes of satellites with 2 additional classes planned for use in the future.
DBS Band Satellites. The high powered DBS band satellites utilize circular polarization and are received using small 18"-20" satellite dish antennas. The Dish Network DBS-band satellites currently in use are located at the 110°, 119°, 129°, 61.5°, 148° orbital locations.
FSS-Ku Band Satellites. These satellites are used mostly to deliver local programming and high definition programming to the Dish Network subscribers. FCC regulations require a minimum 9° spacing between DBS band satellites, which created a shortage of satellite space needed to expand local channel markets. To solve this, Echostar chose to utilize non-traditional satellite technologies, including the use of lower power FSS-Ku band satellites.
Reliable reception of FSS Ku satellites require a larger 36" x 20" elliptical dish design due to lower powered satellite design.
FSS-Ka Band Satellites. Echostar currently holds 4 licenses to construct and launch FSS-Ka band satellites in the future, likely to expand local and high definition programming. FSS-Ka band satellites utilize linear polarization. Echostar currently has 4 FSS-Ku/Ka satellites under construction for future use and launch.
BSS Reverse Band Satellites. Echostar has 5 applications pending on construction and launch BSS reverse band satellites in the future. These will utilize high powered satellites with circular polarization, however the polarization will revolve in the opposite direction of traditional DBS frequencies to prevent interference with nearby DBS band satellites.
Satellite Reception Technology
Dish Network's powerful fleet of orbiting satellites allow subscribers to receive their programming from a small satellite dish antenna and set top receiver. The Dish Network satellite antennas come in several different configurations, depending on the customers programming requirement and physical location.
Single 18" satellite dish - The original Dish Network dish design, used to receive programming from a single high powered DBS-band satellite is now mostly in use by customers requiring the use of a second dish in order to receive local programming.
Dish500+ 24" x 20" elliptical dish - This is now the most common design. It is used to receive programming from satellites, including the 110°, 119° DBS-band satellites as well as the 118.75 FSS Ku-band satellite. The Dish500+ dish design replaces the older Dish500 which did not receive the 118.75° satellite.
Dish1000+ 24" x 20" elliptical dish - This is the dish design used by customers wanting to receive nationwide high definition programming, delivered form the 129° satellite in addition to customers in selected markets that need to receive programming from either the 118.75° or 129° satellites. The Dish1000+ dish receives programming from 4 satellites, 110°, 119°, 129° and 118.75° FSS Ku-band. The elliptical Dish1000+ design replaces the Dish1000 design, which did not receive the 118.75 FSS Ku-band satellite.
SuperDish 36" x 20" elliptical dish - The SuperDish antenna was the original DBS/FSS Ku hydrid dish, used to receive satellite programing from the core 110/119° DBS-band satellites and also programming from either the 105° or 121° FSS Ku-band satellites. Local programming for selected markets were originally broadcast using the FSS Ku-band satellites. Recently, Echostar has migrated many local markets to the new 118.75° satellite to allow most U.S. customers to receive it as well as nationwide high definition programming from a single dish. Currently, there remain a few selected local channel markets that require the use of a SuperDish to receive local channels. These markets will require a second dish if they wish to receive high definition programming.
Locals & High Definition
Dish Network offers different local programming for different cities and markets. Some markets are offered locals in both standard definition and also high definition. Required equipment will vary dependant on the area.
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Dish 500 Plus Local Markets
Customers in the following markets are able to receive standard definition locals using the standard Dish Network 500 Plus elliptical dish that receives the 110° and 119° as well as the 118.75 FSS Ku-band satellites from one dish.
(HD) Certain cities offer locals in high definition and require a MPEG-4/MPEG-2 receiver for reception.
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- New York, NY
- Los Angeles, CA
- Chicago, IL
- Philadelphia, PA
- San Francisco, CA (HD)
- Dallas, TX (HD)
- Boston, MA
- Washington, DC
- Atlanta, GA
- Houston, TX (HD)
- Detroit, MI (HD)
- Tampa, FL
- Phoenix, AZ (HD)
- Seattle, WA (HD)
- Minneapolis, MN
- Miami, FL (HD)
- Cleveland, OH
- Denver, CO
- Orlando, FL
- Sacramento, CA (HD)
- St. Louis, MO (HD)
- Pittsburgh, PA (HD)
- Portland, OR (HD)
- Baltimore, MD
- Indianapolis, IN
- Charlotte, NC (HD)
- San Diego, CA (HD)
- Hartford, CT
- Raleigh, NC (HD)
- Nashville, TN
- Kansas City, MO
- Reno, NV
- Tyler, TX
- Lansing, MI
- Traverse City, MI
- Augusta, GA
- Sioux Falls, SD
- Peoria, IL
- Montgomery, AL
- Boise, ID
- Fargo, ND
- Eugene, OR
- Macon, GA
- Santa Barbara, CA
- Lafayette, LA
- Monterey, CA
- Yakima, WA
- Bakersfield, CA
- La Crosse, WI
- Monroe, LA
- Wilmington, NC
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- Palm Springs, CA
- Topeka, KS
- Columbia, MO
- Beaumont, TX
- Joplin, MO
- Albany, GA
- Cincinnati, OH
- Milwaukee, WI
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Greenville, NC
- San Antonio, TX (HD)
- West Palm Beach, FL
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Birmingham, AL (HD)
- Harrisburg, PA
- Norfolk, VA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Memphis, TN
- Albuquerque, NM
- Oklahoma City, OK (HD)
- Greensboro, NC
- Louisville, KY
- Buffalo, NY
- Jacksonville, FL
- Austin, TX
- Wilkes Barre, PA
- New Orleans, LA
- Fresno, CA
- Albany, NY
- Little Rock, AR
- Bristol, VA
- Baton Rouge, LA
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Waco, TX
- Davenport, IA
- Savannah, GA
- Johnstown, PA
- El Paso, TX
- Corpus Christi, TX
- Chico, CA
- Amarillo, TX
- Columbus, MS
- Rockford, IL
- Bangor, ME
- Rochester, MN
- Anchorage, AK (HD)
- Panama City, CA
- Minot, ND
- Odessa, TX
- Sherman, TX
- Gainesville, FL
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- Idaho Falls, ID
- Duluth, MN
- Mobile, FL
- Knoxville, TN
- Richmond, VA
- Tulsa, OK
- Lexington, KY
- Ft. Myers, FL
- Charleston, WV
- Flint, MI
- Wichita, KS
- Roanoke, VA
- Green Bay, WI
- Tucson, AZ
- Toledo, OH
- Honolulu, HI (HD)
- Des Moines, IA
- Portland, ME
- Omaha, NE
- Syracuse, NY
- Springfield, MO
- Spokane, WA (HD)
- Rochester, NY
- Paducah, KY
- Shreveport, LA
- Champaign, IL
- Columbia, SC
- Huntsville, AL
- Madison, WI
- Chattanooga, TN
- Jackson, MS
- South Bend, IN
- Cedar Rapids, IA
- Burlington, VT, NY
- Harlingen, TX
- Evansville, IN
- Ft. Smith, AR
- Youngstown, OH
- Lincoln, NE
- Florence, SC
- Ft. Wayne, IN
- Tallahassee, FL
- Missoula, MT
- Quincy, IL
- Dotham, AL
- Meridian, MS
- Great Falls, MT
- Twin Falls, ID
- Butte, MT
- Fairbanks, AK
- Juneau, AK
- San Juan, PR
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Dish 1000 Plus Local Markets
Customers in the following markets are able to receive local channels using a Dish 1000 Plus elliptical dish antenna that receives programming from the 110°, 119° as well as the 129° and 118.75° FSS Ku-band orbital locations. The Dish 1000 Plus antenna is also used for reception of nationwide high definition programming.
(HD) Certain cities offer locals in high definition and require a MPEG-4/MPEG-2 receiver for reception.
**Cities denoted in red require this dish design only to receive local programming in high definition.
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- Columbus, OH
- Wausau, WI
- Witchita Falls, TX
- Albuquerque, NM (HD)
- Denver,CO (HD)
- Minneapolis, MN (HD)
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- Dayton, OH
- Erie, PA
- Clarksburg, WV
- Atlanta, GA (HD)
- Kansas City, KS (HD)
- Nashville, TN (HD)
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- Greenville, NC
- Sioux City, IA
- Charlottesville, VA
- Chicago, IL (HD)
- los Angeles, CA (HD)
- Salt Lake City, UT (HD)
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SuperDish Local Markets
Customers in these markets are able to receive local channels using a SuperDish elliptical satellite antenna that receives programming from the 110°, 119° DBS-band satellites as well as either the 105° or 121° FSS Ku-band satellite, depending on the local market.
(HD) Certain cities offer locals in high definition and require a H-20 MPEG-4/MPEG-2 receiver for reception.
**Cities denoted in red require this dish design only to receive local programming in high definition.
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Second Dish Local Markets
Customers in the following markets require a second satellite dish antenna in order to receive local programming. Local channel programming may come from either the 61.5°, 148° orbital location, depending on the local market.
(HD) Certain cities offer locals in high definition and require a H-20 MPEG-4/MPEG-2 receiver for reception.
**Cities denoted in red require this dish design only to receive local programming in high definition.
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- Medford, OR
- Billings, MT
- Cheyenne, WY
- Boston, MA (HD)
- New York City, NY (HD)
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- Lubbock, TX
- Rapid City, SD
- San Angelo, TX
- Fairbanks, AK (HD)
- Philadelphia, PA (HD)
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- Abilene, TX
- Grand Junction, CO
- Casper, WY
- Juneau, AK (HD)
- Washington, D.C. (HD)
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08/04/2008 11:20 AM
In order to give the website a better focus, we are phasing out the less popular areas of the site, including the high definition and digital video recorder areas and forums. This will leave the site focused on digital satellite television and satellite radio.
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Smallville 8:00 pm ET
An "It's a Wonderful Life" episode -- and it isn't even Christmastime. Clark (Tom Welling) gets wind of some messages from the past saying Brainiac (James Marsters) wanted to kill Kal-El as a baby. That has him wondering what life in Smallville would be like if he'd never existed. Jor-El plays "Clarence the angel" and shows him, and the answer will surprise you -- repeatedly -- in "Apocalypse."
The Color Purple 8:00 pm ET
It was remade as a Broadway musical, but the original movie -- whose big-time loss at the Academy Awards had a lot of folks seeing the color red -- remains a great "watch" 23 years later. That's due in large part to Whoopi Goldberg's portrayal of an abused wife who finds love from an unlikely source -- her husband's mistress -- and hope from her sister's incredible journey. Oprah Winfrey gives a gut-wrenching supporting performance.
Flubber 9:00 pm ET
Robin Williams brings his wacky energy to the Fred MacMurray role in this 1997 remake of Disney's "The Absent Minded Professor." His character, Philip Brainard, inadvertently invents a miraculous substance that bounces, flies, looks like a prop left over from "Ghostbusters" and may save his struggling school from financial ruin. Marcia Gay Harden plays the college president, who also happens to be Brainard's girlfriend.
I Witness 8:00 pm ET
Shouldn't there be a comma in that title, a la "I, Robot"? Nah, it wouldn't help. A lukewarm direct-to-video drama from 2003, it stars Jeff Daniels as a human rights investigator who stumbles upon 27 dead bodies near a U.S.-owned factory near the U.S.-Mexican border. Could this be the work of drug gangs? A cover-up by the evil American corporation? Does anyone care? Sadly, in a better-made movie, you might.
The Big Country 8:00 pm ET
Although better known for his singing, Burl Ives won an Oscar and a Golden Globe for his performance in director William Wyler's sprawling 1958 Western epic about two ranching families feuding over water rights. Gregory Peck plays the sea captain who gets caught in the middle of the feud when he comes west to marry into one of the families. Jean Simmons, Carroll Baker, Charles Bickford and Chuck Connors also star.
Ugly Betty 8:00 pm ET
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CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 9:00 pm ET
Um, so what exactly was he training for? In this episode, a washed-up boxer turns up dead at the brothel where he'd been living and training. None of the working girls were exactly fans of his, and he had a number of close calls in a single night ... but which was the fatal one? James Whitmore, Wendy Makkena and Peter Stormare guest star in "Ending Happy."
Grey's Anatomy 9:00 pm ET
Who says you can't go home again? In "Piece of My Heart," Addison (Kate Walsh) is back at Seattle Grace as a guest surgeon, and she's amazed to see how her ex-colleagues' lives have changed. Also back in the picture is Rebecca, aka Ava (Elizabeth Reaser), the amnesia patient, who has a surprise for Alex (Justin Chambers). Meredith and Derek (Ellen Pompeo, Patrick Dempsey) get their first clinical trial patient.
Supernatural 9:00 pm ET
It's not nice to take things from people who are still using them, Doc. An alleged zombie case brings Sam and Dean (Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles) to Pennsylvania, where they encounter not a zombie but a doctor (Billy Drago) who has stayed alive since the 19th century by stealing other people's vital organs. Sam deals with him while Dean heads off to confront Bela (Lauren Cohan) in "Time Is on My Side."
Tabatha's Salon Takeover 11:00 pm ET
Its name means "heavenly," but Tabatha Coffey finds it closer to the other place. Let's just say the owner of the De Cielo Spa and Salon in Burbank, Calif., could stand a few lessons in keeping his establishment clean. And he doesn't exactly take that news graciously. Tabatha enlists the help of his staff to clean up the place and attempt to adjust his attitude in this new episode.
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