All Brands Owned by EchoStar Corporation

What does EchoStar own?
EchoStar owns Dish TV, Sling, Boost Mobile, the Hughes satellite business (in Chapter 11), remaining spectrum licenses, $14 billion to $15 billion in cash, and 261.8 million shares of SpaceX received in the 2026 spectrum sale.

Is EchoStar publicly traded?
Yes. It trades on the Nasdaq under ticker SATS, with founder Charlie Ergen controlling the company through super-voting Class B shares.

Who founded EchoStar?
Charlie Ergen, his wife Candy Ergen, and Jim DeFranco founded the company in 1980 as a satellite dish distributor in rural Colorado. Dish Network launched in 1996.

Did EchoStar sell its spectrum?
Yes. In May 2026 the FCC approved EchoStar's sale of approximately 50 MHz of spectrum to AT&T for $23 billion and 65 MHz to SpaceX for $17 billion, which included a large SpaceX equity stake for EchoStar.

Is Boost Mobile shutting down?
No. Boost Mobile continues operating under an AT&T hybrid MVNO arrangement required by the FCC approvals, though its standalone 5G network is being shut down through the Dish Wireless Chapter 11 process.

Is EchoStar in bankruptcy?
EchoStar Corporation itself is not. Its Hughes entities filed Chapter 11 in August 2026 and the Dish Wireless entities are in separate Chapter 11 proceedings in the Southern District of Texas, expected to conclude in late 2026.

Who owns EchoStar?
Public shareholders own the economic interests, but founder Charlie Ergen controls the company through dual-class voting stock and serves as chairman. Hamid Akhavan is CEO.