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EchoStar avoids bankruptcy with debt payment, but issues remain

EchoStar avoids bankruptcy with debt payment, but issues remain

The company’s large debt interest payment will help stave off bankruptcy proceedings, at least for a while.

David Satin
David Satin has been a dedicated News Writer at The Streamable since 2022, covering a wide range of stories in the entertainment and streaming industries. With years of experience writing online, David previously worked as a list writer for Screen Rant, where he gained recognition for his extensive coverage of sci-fi and fantasy genres. His ability to break and analyze major stories has made him a trusted voice in the streaming world. Over the course of his career, Satin has become an integral part of The Streamable team, contributing to some of the most impactful stories in the industry.
Read full bio ›
David Satin
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Known for breaking major streaming stories, he’s covered everything from Netflix policy shifts to Peacock’s ad-tier changes. A sci-fi fan and Toshiba Fire TV user, he brings sharp analysis and a love for the genre to his reporting.
Known for breaking major streaming stories, he’s covered everything from Netflix policy shifts to Peacock’s ad-tier changes. A sci-fi fan and Toshiba Fire TV user, he brings sharp analysis and a love for the genre to his reporting.

EchoStar is walking a fine line. The company, which owns both DISH and Sling TV, is trying to juggle myriad financial commitments, including the launch of a nationwide 5G network as well as a pay-TV business that doesn’t bring in nearly the revenue it once did. For many months now, there has been talk that EchoStar may be headed for bankruptcy, but recent moves by the company indicate Chapter 11 proceedings aren’t imminent just yet.

Key Details:

  • Pay up: EchoStar will make a scheduled debt interest payment to stave off bankruptcy.
  • Breathing room: The payment will give the company more time to work out a deal with the FCC over its 5G rollout.
  • Not out of the woods: Bankruptcy remains a possibility for EchoStar, even if recent moves make the possibility more remote.

EchoStar has managed to keep bankruptcy at bay by disclosing that it will go forward with scheduled payments on its debt interest, as the company revealed in a recent 8K filing. That payment was originally due weeks ago, but the company had been operating under a 30-day grace period.

The payment does not wipe away all debt at the company; far from it. EchoStar is carrying around $25 billion in long-term debt on its balance sheet, and Advanced Television reports that company CEO Charlie Ergen is negotiating with bond and debt-holders to get more time to pay down its obligations.

EchoStar also has to worry about regulators peering over its shoulder. In May, the FCC told EchoStar that it would be reviewing the company’s compliance with regulations regarding the rollout of its 5G network nationwide. According to Light Reading, Ergen met with FCC chairman Brendan Carr as well as President Trump, who instructed the FCC to work out a deal with the company.

Still, EchoStar is walking a very fine line between regulators, creditors, and utilization of spectrum licenses that the FCC says it must either sell or risk losing. In short, the company has not yet put the risk of bankruptcy completely behind it, even if it has staved off Chapter 11 for now.

It may be that soon, the pay-TV side of EchoStar’s business is also on the mend. Recent reports indicate that fewer and fewer viewers are leaving pay-TV outright, that could help companies like EchoStar stabilize as they look toward the future. It remains to be seen whether or not this rebound will be in time to help pull EchoStar out of its financial doldrums, but the company has a little more time to work with thanks to debt interest payments and a showing of flexibility from regulators, at the very least.

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David Satin
David Satin has been a dedicated News Writer at The Streamable since 2022, covering a wide range of stories in the entertainment and streaming industries. With years of experience writing online, David previously worked as a list writer for Screen Rant, where he gained recognition for his extensive coverage of sci-fi and fantasy genres. His ability to break and analyze major stories has made him a trusted voice in the streaming world. Over the course of his career, Satin has become an integral part of The Streamable team, contributing to some of the most impactful stories in the industry.
Read full bio ›
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