Dish Network 2004 Annual Report Download - page 9

1
PART I
Item 1. BUSINESS
OVERVIEW
Our Business
EchoStar Communications Corporation, through its DISH Network, is a leading provider of satellite delivered
digital television to customers across the United States. DISH Network services include hundreds of video, audio
and data channels, interactive television channels, digital video recording, high definition television, international
programming, professional installation and 24-hour customer service.
We started offering subscription television services on the DISH Network in March 1996. As of December 31,
2004, the DISH Network had approximately 10.905 million subscribers. We currently have twelve owned or leased
in-orbit satellites which enable us to offer over 2,000 video and audio channels to consumers across the United
States. Since we use many of these channels for local programming, no particular consumer could subscribe to all
channels, but all are available using small consumer satellite antennae, or dishes. We believe that the DISH
Network offers programming packages that have a better “price-to-value” relationship than packages currently
offered by most other subscription television providers. As of December 31, 2004, there were over 24.0 million
subscribers to direct broadcast satellite services in the United States. We believe that there are more than 92.0
million pay television subscribers in the United States, and there continues to be significant unsatisfied demand for
high quality, reasonably priced television programming services.
DISH Network and EchoStar Technologies Corporation
EchoStar Communications Corporation (“ECC”) is a holding company. Its subsidiaries (which together with ECC
are referred to as “EchoStar,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” and/or “our”) operate two interrelated business units:
• The DISH Network – which provides a direct broadcast satellite (“DBS”) subscription television service in
the United States; and
• EchoStar Technologies Corporation (“ETC”) – which designs and develops DBS set-top boxes, antennae
and other digital equipment for the DISH Network. We refer to this equipment collectively as “EchoStar
receiver systems.” ETC also designs, develops and distributes similar equipment for international satellite
service providers.
Since 1994, we have deployed substantial resources to develop the “EchoStar DBS System.” The EchoStar DBS
System consists of our FCC-allocated DBS spectrum, our owned and leased satellites, EchoStar receiver systems,
digital broadcast operations centers, customer service facilities, and certain other assets utilized in our operations.
Our principal business strategy is to continue developing our subscription television service in the United States to
provide consumers with a fully competitive alternative to cable television service.
Other Information
We were organized in 1995 as a corporation under the laws of the State of Nevada. Our common stock is publicly
traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol “DISH.” Our principal executive offices are located at
9601 South Meridian Boulevard, Englewood, Colorado 80112 and our telephone number is [phone].
Recent Developments
$1.0 Billion Senior Notes Offering. On October 1, 2004, we sold $1.0 billion principal amount of our 6 5/8% Senior
Notes due October 1, 2014. The Notes were sold in a private placement to qualified institutional buyers in reliance
on Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933. We used the net proceeds from issuance of the Notes, together with
available cash, to redeem all of our outstanding 10 3/8% Senior Notes due 2007.