Dish Network is one of three interconnected businesses of EchoStar Communications Corporation, along with EchoStar Technologies and EchoStar Satellite Services. EchoStar Technologies is the producer of the satellite receivers Dish Network uses. EchoStar Satellite Services supplies video, audio and data delivery services to Dish Network’s Business and Education Television clients.

EchoStar started in 1980 following the entrance of company’s chairman and CEO, Charlie Ergen, into the satellite TV industry as a distributor of C-band satellite TV systems. Processes rapidly expanded while earning a status as an innovative company devoted to providing customers with state-of-the-art equipment, systems and services.
In 1987, EchoStar filed for a licence for direct broadcast satellite (DBS) with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). EchoStar has six satellites in orbit and three more are on the way.

Dish Network has its headquarters in Littleton, Colo. It is is EchoStar's state-of-the-art direct broadcast satellite system with the capability to offer customers over 500 channels of digital video and CD-quality audio programming by means of a single small satellite Dish. Dish Network provides customer support with the help of over 7,000 Dish Network customer service reps available by telephone or e-mail 24/7. Dish Network supplies the most popular entertainment, news, sports and international stations. Furthermore, with final opening of satellite TV legislation, Dish Network presently offers local ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX network channels, as well as trendy super stations and independent network channels in some markets, to more than 60 percent of the U.S. market. As the most rapidly expanding DBS company, Dish Network has added over 100,000 customers every month without fail since October 1998. Customers are selecting Dish Network over cable or other satellite TV providers in record numbers as a result of Dish Network’s promise to offer more channels, more choices and more movies, all in the most cost-effective way possible.