Dish Network 2005 Annual Report Download - page 11

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,
2006, the DISH Network had approximately 13.105 million subscribers. We currently have 14 owned or leased in-
orbit satellites which enable us to offer over 2,500 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. We believe that there continues to be 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 primary 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 receivers, 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 and others.
We have deployed substantial resources to develop the “EchoStar DBS System.” The EchoStar DBS System
consists of our FCC authorized DBS and Fixed Satellite Service (“FSS”) spectrum, our owned and leased satellites,
EchoStar receiver systems, digital broadcast operations centers, customer service facilities, in-home service and call
center operations 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 others in the multi-channel video programming distribution (“MVPD”) industry.
We will continue to focus on improving our competitive position and growing our business by leveraging our
satellite and engineering expertise to pursue complementary strategic initiatives. These initiatives include offering
fixed satellite service capacity on a wholesale commercial basis (rather than direct to consumers) and continuing to
develop and offer new products and services, such as advanced interactive, home media and portable and mobile
products and services. In addition, we are considering various investment and other business opportunities
domestically and abroad, and this activity could continue to increase in 2007.
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 Global Select 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].