Dish Launched 15th Satellite

More HD Channels To Follow

By Greg Tarr -- TWICE, 3/22/2010

Englewood, Colo. - Dish Network said Sunday that it successfully launched its 15^th satellite -- the EchoStar XIV -- which will help the satellite-TV-service provider expand its HDTV offerings.

The satellite was built by Space Systems/Loral, and was launched by International Launch Services aboard a Proton/Breeze M rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 2:27 p.m. E.T., March 20.

The satellite successfully reached a geosynchronous transfer orbit after a nine-hour, 10-minute mission, Dish Network said.

The satellite will ultimately reside at 119 degrees West longitude at an altitude of 22,000 miles. Video replays of the launch are available on www.dish.com.

Dish Network said it currently broadcasts more than 160 HD channels as well as HD locals in 152 markets.

"Dish Network continues to launch new satellites to remain at the forefront of multichannel video programming," said Tom Cullen, sales, marketing and programming executive VP for Dish Network. "We look forward to extending our industry-leading HD lineup to well over 200 channels."