DISH, Sprint ‘Formalize’ One-Bill Plan

By Greg Tarr -- TWICE, 2/4/2004

Overland Park, Kan. — Following close on the heels of DirecTV’s announced bundling partnership with Verizon, EchoStar reported it had finalized its previously announced joint marketing and sales agreement with Sprint to provide EchoStar’s DISH Network satellite-TV service to households served by Sprint's Local Telephone Division.

The deal formalizes a cooperative effort that has been in place since late 2003. The agreement allows Sprint to offer customers digital-television programming and a bundle of communications services that includes local, long distance, wireless, DSL and video. The two companies said they expect to offer bundled services under a one-bill arrangement

Within 90 days, Sprint and EchoStar expect to offer the bundled TV and telephone services through a single bill and one point of contact for the customer.

Sprint will package DISH Network services with its Sprint Solutions and Sprint DSL bundles in 18 states where Sprint is the local telephone company. Customers can add DISH Network programming to their Sprint bundle by making one call to Sprint.

Sprint customers who subscribe to the offer will be eligible for DISH Network promotions, such as the Digital Home Advantage and its whole-home, multiple-TV solution that requires no commitment, no hardware to buy and offers local channels where available, all for one low price.

Talkback

We would love your feedback!