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Dish Network

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Dish Network is a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service that broadcasts digital satellite television and audio to households in the United States, owned by EchoStar Communications Corporation. Dish Network was launched in March 1996, and is DirecTV's primary competitor in the United States.

Dish Network Logo
Dish Network Logo

Dish Network originally used an 18-inch satellite dish called Dish 300 which allowed subscribers to receive a signal from one satellite ___location. Today, Dish Network uses 20-inch satellite dishes called Dish 500, which allows subscribers to receive satellite signals from two satellite locations simultaneously. Slightly larger, dishes such as the 36"×20" SuperDish and the Dish 1000 are being introduced with capability to receive satellite signals from three satellite locations simultaneously. The SuperDish receives feeds from satellites at 119°W, 110°W, and either 121°W or 105°W, and the Dish 1000 receives from satellites at 119°W, 110°W, and 129°W. Both Dish 1000 and SuperDish are becoming more common as Dish Network (as well as other DBS services) are attempting to squeeze more programming onto their growing systems, particularly local and national American television network stations, and foreign programming.

In 2003, Dish Network began providing in-flight satellite TV service to the U.S. airline Song. In 2004, all selected music channels from the Sirius Satellite Radio audio pack were added to Dish Network's lineup of audio-only channels.

Dish Network is also partnered with Starband to deliver broadband satellite Internet service along with its television service. Every month, Dish Network has a show called Charlie Chat which features news about upcoming hardware, programming events, and new channels. Company CEO Charlie Ergen and Jim De Franco host the show and take questions from e-mail and live callers.

On May 1, 2005, EchoStar added the first 10 of the 21 original Voom channels. These channels are available at a 61.5°W orbital slot position. EchoStar plans to carry all 21 original Voom channels by next year. (more information here)

Number of subscribers by year

YearSubscribers
199520,000
1996100,000
1997250,000
1998500,000
19991,000,000
20002,000,000
20004,000,000
20005,000,000
20029,000,000
200410,000,000

Management

List of channels on Dish Network

Local channels

Dish Network also offers local channels (CBS, ABC, NBC, Fox, PBS, WB, UPN, and some independent stations) for many markets. If a market lacks an affiliate for a network, Dish Network offers feeds from other cities. Feeds from New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, and Denver are available for CBS, ABC, NBC, and Fox. Dish Network also offers WWOR-TV and WSBK-TV for areas without a UPN affiliate, and WPIX-TV, KWGN-TV, and KTLA-TV for areas without a WB affiliate.

Satellite fleet

Satellite Orbital slot Launch date Satellite manufacturer/type
EchoStar I 119° W 28 December 1995 Lockheed Martin Astro Space Series 7000
EchoStar II 148° W 10 September 1996 Lockheed Martin Astro Space Series 7000
EchoStar III 61.5° W 5 October 1997 Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space A2100AX
EchoStar IV 119° W 8 May 1998 Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space A2100AX
EchoStar V 110° W (119° W?) 23 September 1999 Space Systems/Loral FS-1300
EchoStar VI 110° W (119° W?) 14 July 2000 Space Systems/Loral FS-1300
EchoStar VII 109° W(?) 21 February 2002 Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space A2100AX
EchoStar VIII 110° W 21 August 2002 Space Systems/Loral FS-1300
EchoStar IX/Telstar 13 121° W 7 August 2003 Space Systems/Loral <unknown type>

This table incomplete/inaccurate, pending correction of information from Dish Network as of October 2005.

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