Dish Network 2011 Annual Report Download - page 17

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7
7
SATELLITES
Most of our programming is currently delivered using DBS satellites. We continue to explore opportunities to expand
our available satellite capacity through the use of other available spectrum. Increasing our available spectrum is
particularly important as more bandwidth intensive HD programming is produced and to address new video and data
applications consumers may desire in the future. We currently utilize satellites in geostationary orbit approximately
22,300 miles above the equator detailed in the table below.
Original
Degree Useful
Launch Orbital Life Lease Term
Satellites Date Location (Years) (Years)
Owned:
EchoStar I (1).................................. December 1995 77 12
EchoStar VII................................... February 2002 119 12
EchoStar X...................................... February 2006 110 12
EchoStar XI..................................... July 2008 110 12
EchoStar XIV.................................. March 2010 119 15
EchoStar XV................................... July 2010 61.5 15
Leased from EchoStar:
EchoStar VI (1)............................... July 2000 77 12
EchoStar VIII (1)(2)........................ August 2002 77 12
EchoStar IX (1)(2)(3)...................... August 2003 121 12
EchoStar XII (1).............................. July 2003 61.5 10
Nimiq 5 (1)(2)................................. September 2009 72.7 10 10
Leased from Other Third Party:
Anik F3........................................... April 2007 118.7 15 15
Ciel II.............................................. December 2008 129 10 10
Under Construction:
Leased from EchoStar:
EchoStar XVI.................................. 2012 61.5 10 10
(1) See Note 20 in the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 15 of this Annual Report on Form
10-K for further discussion of our Related Party Transactions with EchoStar.
(2) We lease a portion of the capacity on these satellites.
(3) Leased on a month to month basis.
Recent Developments
Recent developments with respect to certain of our satellites are discussed below.
QuetzSat-1. During 2008, we entered into a transponder service agreement with EchoStar expiring in November 2021,
which will be accounted for as an operating lease. We will lease 24 DBS transponders on QuetzSat-1 when the satellite
is placed into commercial operation at the 77 degree orbital location. QuetzSat-1 was launched on September 29, 2011
and was placed into service during the fourth quarter 2011 at the 67.1 degree orbital location while we and EchoStar
explore alternative uses for the QuetzSat-1 satellite. In the interim, EchoStar is providing us with alternate capacity at
the 77 degree orbital location. See Note 20 in the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 15 of this
Annual Report on Form 10-K.