The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved the transfer of all licences, authorisations and special temporary authorities (STAs) held by DISH Network Corporation and its subsidiaries to sister company EchoStar ahead of the planned merger of the two companies. DISH and EchoStar were previously part of the same company, EchoStar Communications Corp., but split apart in 2008. Charles W. Ergen owns over 90% of the voting stock of DISH and over 51% of the equity. He also owns approximately 93.5% of the voting stock of EchoStar and approximately 60% of the equity.
DISH and EchoStar entered into a merger agreement to recombine on 8 August 2023. Pursuant to the terms of the proposed transaction, DISH Network will be merged into Merger Sub, a newly incorporated direct and wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar, with DISH Network Corp. surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar. Ergen will beneficially own more than 90% of the voting stock and approximately 54% of the equity of the recombined company.
According to FCC records, the DISH subsidiaries holding FCC licences are: Aevergreen; Alta Wireless; American AWS-3 Wireless I; American H Block Wireless; Crestone Wireless; DBSD Corporation; dishNET Wireline; DISH Broadcasting Corporation; DISH Network; DISH Operating; DISH Wireless; DISH Wireless Puerto Rico; EchoStar 77 Corp.; EchoStar Broadcasting Holding Corporation; EchoStar BSS Corporation; Gamma Acquisition; Little Bear Wireless; Manifest Wireless; New DBSD Satellite Services; Northstar Wireless; ParkerB.com Wireless; SNR Wireless LicenseCo; South.com; Weminuche; Wetterhorn Wireless; and Window Wireless.
DISH provides direct broadcast satellite (DBS) services throughout the US and offers post-paid and pre-paid mobile services primarily through its Boost Mobile brand. EchoStar, meanwhile, provides worldwide global satellite communications services under its own name and through Hughes Network Systems.