EchoStar Communications has agreed to buy certain satellite assets from Rainbow DBS, a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems, for $200 million, effectively shuttering Cablevision’s VOOM HD DBS offering.
EchoStar agreed to purchase Rainbow 1, a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) located at 61.5 degrees West Longitude, together with the rights to 11 DBS frequencies at that location. The satellite includes 13 frequencies, up to 12 of which can be operated in "spot beam" mode.
The EchoStar III satellite, also located at 61.5 degrees West Longitude, broadcasts DISH Network TV programming to hundreds of thousands of consumers using DBS spectrum controlled by EchoStar. The company is assessing how the Rainbow satellite's flexibility can best be used to enhance DISH Network's existing service. As part of the transaction, EchoStar will acquire ground facilities and related assets in Black Hawk, SD. The transaction is subject to review by the FCC and other regulatory agencies.
For more information, visit www.echostar.com.