EchoStar loses 241,000 pay-TV customers as Hughes unit seeks Chapter 11 protection
EchoStar reported a loss of 241,000 pay-TV subscribers in Q2, bringing its total to 6.39 million, while its Hughes Network System division filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
EchoStar, owned by billionaire Charlie Ergen, disclosed that its pay-TV subscriber count fell by 241,000 in the second quarter, marking a continued decline from the same period in 2025. The company now serves 6.39 million customers, split between 4.68 million Dish TV and 1.71 million Sling TV users. Quarterly revenue decreased to $3.58 billion, with pay-TV earnings sliding to $2.24 billion, reflecting pressure from cord-cutting and competition from streaming services.
A substantial non-cash accounting gain allowed EchoStar to report $8.46 billion in net income, though stripped of that item the profit would be roughly $49.5 million. Additionally, EchoStar announced that its Hughes Network System division, which provides satellite internet, has filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy in a Southern District of Texas court to reorganize about $1.5 billion of debt. The bankruptcy filing is expected to have no impact on the Dish or Sling businesses.
Why it matters
The subscriber loss and Hughes bankruptcy highlight ongoing challenges for traditional pay-TV providers amid shifting consumer habits.
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