DISH Network Corporation Profile
DISH Network LLC, commonly known as DISH, is a telecommunications company headquartered in Meridian, Colorado. Founded in 1980 by Charlie Ergen, Candy Ergen, and Jim DeFranco as EchoStar Communications, the company launched its satellite television services under the DISH Network brand in 1996. On December 31, 2023, DISH Network merged with EchoStar Corporation, becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of the new combined entity, which is publicly traded on the Nasdaq under the ticker SATS. For 2024, the company reported consolidated revenue of $14.29 billion.
DISH is a major provider of pay television and wireless services in the United States. Its primary offerings include direct-broadcast satellite television service under the DISH TV brand, and an over-the-top (OTT) streaming service, Sling TV. In recent years, DISH has expanded significantly into the wireless market. It acquired Boost Mobile in 2020 and is building out a nationwide 5G network, positioning itself as the fourth major wireless carrier in the U.S. The company's product line also includes advanced DVRs like the Hopper, and it provides satellite internet services through its parent company, EchoStar.
Based on its litigation history, DISH Network is an operating company that defends itself against patent infringement lawsuits. The company has been a defendant in two tracked cases since 2022 and has not been a plaintiff. These suits were filed in the Eastern and Western Districts of Texas, both popular venues for patent litigation. This defendant-only posture is typical for large technology and service companies that are targets of patent assertion entities (PAEs).
The tracked cases against DISH were initiated by entities that appear to be non-practicing entities (NPEs). The 2024 case was filed by Fleet Connect Solutions LLC, which has been identified as an NPE and an entity of Empire IP that has asserted patents related to wireless communications and fleet management against numerous companies. The 2022 case was filed by Disintermedation Services Inc., another entity that has filed numerous patent infringement suits related to communications software.