Cable, Satellite Television | featured news

Dish Network Corp, the No. 2 U.S. satellite television provider, on Monday offered to buy wireless service provider Sprint Nextel Corp for $25.5 billion in cash and stock, a move that could inspire other telecommunications or video companies to consider their own prospects of combining.

Dish Network, the smaller of the nation's two satellite broadcasters, saw profit and revenue rise last quarter but lost 111,000 subscribers, citing intense competition -- including heavy discounting by rivals -- a weak housing market and lower discretionary spending by consumers.

Dish Network's third-quarter earnings fell 12% to $81 million despite posting another quarter of subscriber growth. Former unit EchoStar swung to a profit.

The U.S. government and four states sued Dish Network Corp on Wednesday, accusing the satellite television provider of assisting its
authorized dealers in calling consumers with recorded telemarketing messages.