Dish Network 2008 Annual Report Download - page 15

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Subscriber Management. We presently use, and depend on, CSG Systems International, Inc.’s software system for
the majority of DISH Network subscriber billing and related functions.
New Business Opportunities
From time to time we evaluate opportunities for acquisitions and other strategic transactions that may complement
our current services and products, enhance our technical capabilities, improve or sustain our competitive position, or
offer growth opportunities. Future material investments or acquisitions may require that we obtain additional capital
or assume debt or other long-term obligations.
We paid $712 million to acquire certain 700 MHz wireless licenses, which were granted to us by the FCC in February
2009. We will be required to make significant additional investments or partner with others to commercialize these
licenses and satisfy FCC build-out requirements. Part or all of our licenses may be terminated for failure to satisfy
these requirements.
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 in order to address new video
and data applications consumers may desire in the future. We 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.......................................... December 1995 148 12
EchoStar V........................................ September 1999 129 12
EchoStar VII .................................... February 2002 119 12
EchoStar X........................................ February 2006 110 12
EchoStar XI....................................... July 2008 110 12
Leased from EchoStar:
EchoStar III....................................... October 1997 61.5 12 2
EchoStar IV (1)................................. May 1998 77 12 Month to month
EchoStar VI....................................... July 2000 72.7 12 2
EchoStar VIII (1).............................. August 2002 77 12 2
EchoStar IX....................................... August 2003 121 12 Month to month
EchoStar XII .................................... July 2003 61.5 10 2
AMC-15 (1)....................................... December 2004 105 10 Month to month
Leased from Other Third Party:
Anik F3.............................................. April 2007 118.7 15 15
Ciel II (2)........................................... December 2008 129 10 10
Under Construction:
Owned:
EchoStar XIV.................................... Late 2009 119 12
EchoStar XV..................................... Late 2010 119 12
Leased from EchoStar:
Nimiq 5 ............................................ Late 2009 72.7 10 10
QuetzSat-1 ........................................ 2011 77 10 10
(1) We currently do not lease the entire capacity available on these satellites.
(2) Ciel II was placed in service in February 2009.