Company Overview

Founded in 1980, EchoStar Communications was primarily a manufacturer of satellite equipment until it reorganized in the late 1980s to emphasize satellite services and broadcasting. It launched its first satellite in 1995, and today the telecommunications company has two business units: DISH Network, which offers 2,300 video and audio channels; and EchoStar Technologies Corp., which makes and sells digital satellite receivers. EchoStar is following the trend of cable companies and partnering with other companies to offer service packages that include TV, phone, and Internet service.