UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 24, 2007
ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| NEVADA (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
0-26176 (Commission File Number) |
88-0336997 (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
| 9601 S. MERIDIAN BLVD. ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO (Address of principal executive offices) |
80112 (Zip Code) |
(303) 723-1000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the
filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| o | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| o | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| o | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| o | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 8.01 Other Events
On September 24, 2007, EchoStar Communications Corporation announced that it had entered into an
agreement to acquire Sling Media, Inc., a privately-held digital lifestyle products company. The
press release announcing this agreement is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form
8-K.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
(c) Exhibits:
99.1
|
Press Release “ EchoStar Announces Agreement to Acquire Sling Media, Inc. ” |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused
this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION |
||||
| Date: September 25, 2007 | By: | /s/ R. Stanton Dodge | ||
| R. Stanton Dodge | ||||
| Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary | ||||
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EXHIBIT INDEX
| Exhibit No. | Description | |||||
99.1
|
Press Release “EchoStar Announces Agreement to Acquire Sling Media, Inc.” |
EXHIBIT 99.1
EchoStar Announces Agreement to Acquire Sling Media, Inc.
Combination Will Create Industry-Leading Digital Media Solutions Provider
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. and FOSTER CITY, Calif., Sep 24, 2007 (PrimeNewswire via COMTEX News Network)
— EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq:DISH) announced today that it has agreed to acquire
Sling Media, Inc., a privately-held digital lifestyle products company. EchoStar, through its DISH
Network(r), is the third largest pay-TV provider in the United States. The transaction values Sling
Media at approximately $380 million and is payable in cash and EchoStar options. The transaction is
subject to customary closing conditions, and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2007.
Established in 2004, Sling Media has been a leading innovator in the digital lifestyle space
through the introduction of the internationally-acclaimed, Emmy award-winning Slingbox(tm) and
SlingPlayer(tm) software. Sling Media’s product line is distributed in over 5,000 retail stores in
11 countries.
In 2006, Sling Media created the Sling Entertainment Group with the mission of developing
entertainment experiences and business models that reach beyond the Slingbox. The group also
fosters and manages relationships with content creators and owners. Its first initiative,
Clip+Sling(tm), dramatically changes the way consumers socialize around TV by enabling users to
clip and share limited segments of their favorite television programming.
“As an early investor in Sling Media, EchoStar has been pleased with the progress and commitment
the company has made establishing Sling Media and the Slingbox as powerful and beloved digital
media brands,” said Charlie Ergen, CEO and co-founder of EchoStar. “With today’s increasingly
mobile lifestyle, EchoStar’s acquisition of Sling Media will allow us to offer innovative and
convenient ways for our customers to enjoy their programming on more displays and locations,
including TVs, computers and mobile phones, both inside and outside of the home. This combination
paves the way for the development of a host of new innovative products and services for our
subscribers, new digital media consumers and strategic partners.”
“We are psyched to make this announcement. We have worked closely with EchoStar for more than two
years, and have come to realize that both companies have similar entrepreneurial cultures and
mutual dedication and passion for creating empowering experiences that benefit the consumer and the
media industry,” said Blake Krikorian, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Sling Media. “By combining
strategies, resources and technologies with EchoStar, Sling Media will be able to rapidly expand
our open multi-platform product offerings, not only for DISH Network subscribers, but for digital
media enthusiasts around the globe.”
About EchoStar Communications Corporation
EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq:DISH) has been a leader for more than 26 years in
satellite TV equipment sales and support worldwide. The Company’s DISH Network(r) is the
fastest-growing pay-TV provider in the country since 2000 and currently serves more than 13.585
million satellite TV customers. DISH Network(r) offers a premier line of industry-leading Digital
Video Recorders (DVRs) and hundreds of video and audio channels as well as the most national HD and
International channels in the U.S., Interactive TV, Latino and sports programming. DISH Network
also provides a variety of package and price options including the lowest all-digital price in
America and the DishDVR Advantage Package. EchoStar is included
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in the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) and is a Fortune 300 company. Visit www.echostar.com or call
1-800-333-DISH (3474) for more information.
The EchoStar logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3707
About Sling Media, Inc.
Sling Media, Inc. is a leading digital lifestyle company offering consumer services and products
that are a natural extension of today’s digital way of life. Sling Media’s product family includes
the internationally-acclaimed, Emmy award-winning Slingbox(tm) that allows consumers to watch and
control their living room television shows at any time, from any location, using PCs, Macs, PDAs
and smartphones. For more information on Sling Media or the Slingbox, visit www.slingmedia.com.
This news release was distributed by PrimeNewswire, www.primenewswire.com
SOURCE: EchoStar
EchoStar
Kathie Gonzalez
720-514-5351
press@echostar.com
720-514-5351
press@echostar.com
Sling Media
Brian Jaquet
415-235-4844
jaquet@slingmedia.com
Brian Jaquet
415-235-4844
jaquet@slingmedia.com
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