Dish Network Satellite System

EchoStar Communications Corporation owns the DISH network. EchoStar launched DISH network in March 1996.This was after the failure of several concerted attempts at launching its own satellite televisions. The satellite launched by EchoStar, EchoStar I was the first successful commercial launch from China. DISH, standing for Digital Sky Highway, was set up in the same year to market EchoStars home satellite TVs.

DISH network covers about 80 markets in the United States. Name it and you got it all on the DISH network right from sports to news to weather to what not. And all that in picture perfect digital quality. The DISH network operates via the satellite TV which means that you can basically get rid of your constant calls to your cable operator. You can access channels directly from the DISH network satellite which has hundreds of channels programmed in it thereby widening your options. The subscriber base for the DISH network satellite has grown from 2 subscribers to 13 million subscribers in a decade.

The journey towards the DISH Network satellite system began in 1987 when EchoStar applied for a DBS license to access the geostationary orbital slot 119 degrees west longitude. Next came a big leap where EchoStar and Dominion Video Satellite, Inc formed a package deal of sorts together where the viewers of both the networks could access the channels offered by both the networks based on their choice. Whats worth noting is that they could do so over one satellite receiver. This was in 1996. In 1999, Echostar went on an acquisition drive where it bought in some joint ventures that had failed. They went in for buying 28 transponders. 2005 was a milestone for EchoStar again in its DISH network satellite systems. It brought about the first 10 of the 20 odd voom channels. Voom was again a separate player on its own providing direct broadcast television services. By 2006, the DISH network satellite system was airing all of vooms channels exclusively.

As a part of DISH network satellite system, DISH provides a variety of satellite receiving equipment for getting signals from its large satellite basket. It began in the days of the DISH 300. The core logic behind DISH 300 was that it used a single LNB to obtain signals. Then came DISH 500 that used dual LNB assembly and obtained signals from two adjacent satellite locations. Later, to expand further to get better reach, DISH network came up with DISH 1000 that could handle capacity right up to the whole of the US. The final step was towards coming up with DISH 500+, DISH 1000+ and super DISH to take full advantage of all the broadcasting assets that DISH had acquired in its steps towards expansion of the DISH network satellite system.