EchoStar to Acquire Mexican Satellite Operator Satmex

[Scott Greczkowski]

EchoStar to Acquire Mexican Satellite Operator Satmex

ENGLEWOOD, CO and MEXICO CITY--(Marketwire - February 26, 2010) - EchoStar Satellite Services, L.L.C., a subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS), and Satélites Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V. (Satmex) announced today an agreement pursuant to which EchoStar will acquire an ownership interest in Satmex. Satmex is Mexico's leading satellite operator and delivers video, audio and data services to the Americas. MVS Comunicaciones, one of the largest media and telecommunications companies in Mexico and EchoStar's partner in the fast growing Mexican direct-to-home TV service Dish Mexico, will also participate in the ownership of Satmex through a joint venture with EchoStar. Together, EchoStar and MVS Comunicaciones will acquire all of the outstanding stock of Satmex.

[photoman76]

Interesting. So they will take control of Satmex 5, Satmex 6, Solidaridad 2 and it's planned replacement Satmex 7.

[nelson61]

Interesting. So they will take control of Satmex 5, Satmex 6, Solidaridad 2 and it's planned replacement Satmex 7.

The big push will be the Dish Mexico network which is coming on strong. I'm guessing the upcoming Echostar 86.5W dbs satellite will be part of it

[rocatman]

Doesn't this give Dish a quasi-monopoly on satellite services in Mexico because Satmex was a competitor with Dish Mexico which is part of the partnership building QuetzSat-1.

[Iceberg]

interesting....

[sampatterson]

We were at our house in the Yucatan in December and it was strange to see all the new "red" dish network dishes popping up all over the neighborhood. They really stick out as they are BRIGHT red.

[Bob Haller]

I wonder if E plans on fees fees fees?

[Slamminc11]

I nwonder if E plans on fees fees fees?

Well, at least you switched from Dish like you said you were goin...oh wait you never did switch like you said, that's right!

[nelson61]

Doesn't this give Dish a quasi-monopoly on satellite services in Mexico because Satmex was a competitor with Dish Mexico which is part of the partnership building QuetzSat-1.

Today, the major satellite provider in Mexico is Sky. They use Intelsat at 58W. Intelsat 16 just launched to replace/supplement the old sat at that location.

[mike123abc]

Note it says ownership interest, not buying or controlling interest. It is not like Dish is buying the companies, they will have a %.