Dish Network 2014 Annual Report Download - page 12

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$920 million for the AWS-3 Auction, at which time our total non-controlling equity and debt
investments in these entities and their parent companies, respectively, was approximately $899
million. Under the applicable accounting guidance in Accounting Standards Codification 810,
Consolidation (“ASC 810”), Northstar Spectrum and SNR Holdco are considered variable interest
entities and, based on the characteristics of the structure of these entities and in accordance with
the applicable accounting guidance, we have consolidated these entities into our financial
statements beginning in the fourth quarter 2014.
In the event that the FCC grants the Northstar Licenses and the SNR Licenses, we may need to
make significant additional loans to the Northstar Entities and the SNR Entities, or they may need
to partner with others, so that the Northstar Entities and the SNR Entities may commercialize,
build-out and integrate the Northstar Licenses and the SNR Licenses, and comply with regulations
applicable to the Northstar Licenses and the SNR Licenses. Depending upon the nature and scope
of such commercialization, build-out, integration efforts, and regulatory compliance, any such
loans or partnerships could vary significantly. There can be no assurance that we will be able to
obtain a profitable return on our non-controlling investments in the Northstar Entities and the SNR
Entities.
See Note 16 in the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further
discussion.
Business Strategy
Our business strategy is to be the best provider of video services in the United States by providing products with the
best technology, outstanding customer service, and great value. We promote DISH branded programming packages
as providing our subscribers with a better “price-to-value” relationship than those available from other subscription
television service providers. We believe that there continues to be unsatisfied demand for high-quality, reasonably
priced subscription television services.
 Products with the Best Technology. We offer a wide selection of local and national high-definition (“HD”)
programming and are a technology leader in our industry, offering award-winning DVRs (including our
Hopper® whole-home HD DVR), multiple tuner receivers, 1080p video on demand, and external hard
drives. In addition, on February 9, 2015, we launched Sling TV, a live, over-the-top (“OTT”) Internet-
based television service.
 Outstanding Customer Service. We strive to provide outstanding customer service by improving the
quality of the initial installation of subscriber equipment, improving the reliability of our equipment, better
educating our customers about our products and services, and resolving customer problems promptly and
effectively when they arise.
 Great Value. We have historically been viewed as the low-cost provider in the pay-TV industry in the U.S.
because we seek to offer the lowest everyday prices available to consumers after introductory promotions
expire.
DISH Products and Services
Pay-TV Programming. We offer a wide selection of video services under the DISH brand, with access to hundreds
of channels depending on the level of subscription. Our standard programming packages generally include
programming provided by national broadcast networks, local broadcast networks and national and regional cable
networks. We also offer programming packages that include regional and specialty sports channels, premium movie
channels and Latino and international programming. Our Latino and international programming packages allow
subscribers to choose from over 250 channels in 28 languages.
In addition, we offer our DISH subscribers streaming access through Blockbuster @HomeTM to more than 10,000
movies and TV shows via their TV or Internet-connected tablets, smartphones and computers.