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EchoStar Corporation: EchoStar Reports Fourth Quarter 2008 Financial Results

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^{Published in Science and Technology on Monday, March 2nd 2009 at 4:58 GMT, Last Modified on 2009-11-04 08:31:16 by Market Wire}  

ENGLEWOOD, CO--(Marketwire - March 2, 2009) - EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: [ SATS ]) today reported total revenue of $496 million for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2008, a 37 percent increase compared with $361 million for the corresponding period in 2007. EchoStar reported a net loss of $690 million for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2008, compared with a net loss of $45 million during the corresponding period in 2007. The net loss for the fourth quarter of 2008 includes the following impairments and net losses on investments on an after tax basis: $247 million for goodwill related to the acquisition of Sling Media, $216 million for net losses on investments, $187 million related to certain satellites, and $4 million of other asset impairments. The loss per share was $7.73 for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2008, compared with $0.51 during the corresponding period in 2007.

For the year ended Dec. 31, 2008, EchoStar reported total revenue of $2.2 billion compared with $1.5 billion for the year ended Dec. 31, 2007, an increase of 39 percent. EchoStar's net loss for the year ended Dec. 31, 2008, totaled $944 million, compared with $85 million for the year ended Dec. 31, 2007. In addition to the fourth quarter impairments listed above, the net loss for the year included $272 million of impairments and net losses on investments on an after tax basis that were reported in previous quarters of 2008. The loss per share was $10.57 for the year ended Dec. 31, 2008, compared with $0.95 during the corresponding period in 2007.

Detailed financial data and other information are available in EchoStar's Form 10-K for the annual period ended Dec. 31, 2008, filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About EchoStar Corporation

EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: [ SATS ]) provides equipment sales, digital broadcast operations, and satellite services that enhance today's digital TV lifestyle, including products from Sling Media, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary. Headquartered in Englewood, Colo., EchoStar has 25 years of experience designing, developing and distributing advanced award-winning television set-top boxes and related products for pay television providers and is creating hardware and service solutions for cable, telco, IPTV and satellite TV companies worldwide. The company includes a network of 10 full-service digital broadcast centers and leased fiber optic capacity with points of presence in approximately 160 U.S. cities. EchoStar also delivers satellite services through eight owned and leased in-orbit satellites and related FCC licenses. Visit [ www.echostar.com ].

EchoStar will host its Fourth Quarter and year end 2008 financial results conference call today at 1 p.m. ET. The dial-in number is (877) 500-5931.