EchoStar

TiVo Sues AT&T, Verizon for Infringing Its DVR Patents

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 26, 2009 - 12:38pm.
Alviso, Calif. - Following a $105 million victory in a still ongoing patent infringement dispute with DISH Network owner EchoStar (NASD: SATS), TiVo (NASD: TIVO) on Wednesday filed additional claims against AT&T (NYSE: T) and Verizon (NYSE: VZ), alleging the companies are violating its digital video recorder patents.

TiVo: Patent Office Finding Won't Affect EchoStar Dispute

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 4, 2009 - 7:45am.
Alviso, Calif. - TiVo (NASD: TIVO) announced on Tuesday that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued a preliminary finding rejecting two of the claims in its fundamental "time warp" digital video recorder patent, but said the finding will not affect its ongoing patent dispute with rival EchoStar (NASD: SATS).
tags: Video | Law | Lawsuits | TV | TiVo | DVR | EchoStar | Patents |

DISH Network Gets Stay of TiVo Patent Ruling

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 4, 2009 - 12:50pm.
El Segundo, Calif. - DISH Network satellite TV service operator EchoStar (NASD: DISH) announced that it has been granted a stay of Tuesday's patent ruling that ordered the company to pay TiVo (NASD: TIVO) $103 million in damages. "We are pleased that the Federal Appeals Court in Washington temporarily stayed the district court's order in the Tivo litigation. DISH Network customers can continue using their DVRs. We believe that we have strong grounds for appeal," the company said in a statement.

Court Orders EchoStar to Pay TiVo $103M in Patent Case

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 3, 2009 - 8:58am.
Alviso, Calif. - TiVo (NASD: TIVO) announced on Wednesday that a federal court has ordered DISH Network operator EchoStar (NASD: DISH) to pay the company $103 million plus interest in damages for infringing on TiVo's digital video recorder patent. TiVo first sued EchoStar in 2004 for patent infringement; a jury found in TiVo's favor in 2006, and that ruling was upheld twice by federal appellate courts.

Sirius XM to Adopt 'Poison Pill' Stockholder Rights Plan

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 30, 2009 - 9:18am.
New York - Sirius XM Radio (NASD: SIRI) said on Thursday that its board has approved a "poison pill" plan that would complicate any potential hostile takeover bids for the company.

TiVo, EchoStar Back in Court Over DVR Patent Dispute

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 17, 2009 - 11:11am.
Texarkana, Texas - TiVo (NASD: TIVO) and DISH Network operator EchoStar (NASD: SATS) were back in court on Tuesday, with TiVo arguing that EchoStar should have to pay additional damages for infringing on its digital video recorder patent, Reuters reported.

Sirius XM Averts Bankruptcy Through Deal with Liberty Media

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 17, 2009 - 8:16am.
Washington - Averting possible bankruptcy, satellite radio provider Sirius XM (NASD: SIRI) on Tuesday reached an 11th-hour deal with Colorado-based Liberty Media (NASD: LINTA), which has agreed to loan the company $530 million in exchange for preferred shares convertible into a 40% equity stake. The deal allows Sirius XM to immediately repay $171.6 million in notes -- mainly owned by Liberty's chief rival, EchoStar (NASD: SATS) -- that were due on Tuesday.

Sirius XM Scrambles to Avoid Bankruptcy; Exchanges Notes

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 13, 2009 - 9:08am.
New York - Satellite radio firm Sirius XM (NASD: SIRI) said on Friday that it is scrambling to avert the possibility of having to declare bankruptcy next week.

EchoStar Accumulating Sirius XM's Debt; Vying for Control

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 6, 2009 - 9:41am.
Washington - EchoStar, the Colorado-based satellite TV firm that owns DISH Network, has been accumulating the debt of satellite radio provider Sirius XM since late summer, and may soon be able to take control of the company, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Viacom Signs Content Carriage Deals With DISH, Sling.com

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 22, 2009 - 1:50pm.

New York - Viacom (NYSE: VIA) has reached a deal with EchoStar (NASD: SATS) that will see content from its MTV Networks, BET and Paramount Pictures become available on Sling.com, the new video streaming site launched by the makers of the Slingbox set-top, the Wall Street Journal reported. Viacom also signed a similar carriage deal with EchoStar sister company DISH Network (NASD: DISH).

Patent Office to Reexamine TiVo "Time Warp" DVR Patent

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 14, 2009 - 12:14pm.

Englewood, Colo. - Satellite TV firm DISH Network (NASD: DISH) and sister company EchoStar (NASD: SATS) announced on Wednesday that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has agreed to re-examine the validity of TiVo's (NASD: TIVO) core digital video recorder technology patent.

Sling Media Launches Sling.com Video Portal

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on December 2, 2008 - 1:54pm.

New York - Sling Media, a unit of EchoStar (NASD: SATS) that develops media "place-shifting" software, on Tuesday announced the launch of a video entertainment website that offers free access to clips, TV shows, films, news and sports from over 90 content providers. The service also allows owners of the company's Slingbox set-top to access their home pay-TV channels and DVR via the website. Content partners for the Hulu-competitor include Fox, WWE, Universal, Sci-Fi Channel, PBS, MSNBC, CBS and 60Frames.

Sling Launches Online Video Portal

Authored by Jay Baage on November 6, 2008 - 9:46am.

Los Angeles - Sling Media, the place- and time-shifting device company that is now owned by Echostar ( NSDQ: SATS), is launching a free, ad-supported online video portal, reports PaidContent.org.

TiVo Gets $105M From DISH; Expects More to Come

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 10, 2008 - 7:15am.

Alviso, Calif. - TiVo (NASD: TIVO) announced that it has received a payment of $104.6 million from DISH Network operator EchoStar Communications (NASD: DISH), an award in a patent infringement case over digital video recorder technology. The Supreme Court earlier this week refused to hear a final appeal from EchoStar; meanwhile, TiVo believes it will be due even more damages, stemming from another pending claim over whether EchoStar failed to disable its digital video recorders per order of an injunction.

Supreme Court Declines EchoStar Appeal; TiVo to Get $104M

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 6, 2008 - 8:47am.

Alviso, Calif. - The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal lodged by DISH Network operator EchoStar Communications (NASD: DISH) of a federal appeals court ruling that found the company committed willful patent infringement against TiVo (NASD: TIVO), meaning EchoStar will now be forced to pay TiVo approximately $104 million in damages. EchoStar said in a statement that the ruling was expected, and that it has the money to pay the damages in an escrow account and will release it to TiVo in the next few days.

Voom HD Claims $1B in Damages from DISH Network Exit

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 3, 2008 - 7:29am.

New York - Voom HD Networks, a suite of HD channels owned by Cablevision's (NYSE: CVC) Rainbow Media, has filed a complaint against satellite TV provider DISH Network (NASD: DISH) with the New York Supreme Court, claiming over $1 billion in damages in the wake of DISH's dropping Voom's channels from its service last month, Multichannel News reported.

TiVo Wins DVR Patent Ruling Against EchoStar

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 31, 2008 - 11:48am.

Alviso, Calif. - TiVo (NASD: TIVO) said on Thursday that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has upheld its claim that rival EchoStar (NASD: DISH), operator of the DISH Network satellite TV service, was infringing on one of its digital video recorder patents, and must pay $74 million in damages, now $94 million with accrued interest.

EchoStar Renamed DISH Network; Plans Spin-Off of Set-top Business

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on December 7, 2007 - 10:02am.

Englewood, Colo. - EchoStar Communications (NASD: DISH), operator of the DISH Network satellite TV service, announced this week in an SEC filing that the company will change its name to DISH Network Corporation, in connection with an anticipated spin-off of its set-top box-related businesses to a new company called EchoStar Holding Company.

Patent Office Upholds TiVo Patent; EchoStar Appeal Still Pending

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 29, 2007 - 12:16pm.

Alviso, Calif. - TiVo (NASD: TIVO) announced on Thursday that the U.S. Patent Office has upheld its "Time Warp" patent on digital video recording technology, after a reexamination was requested by rival EchoStar (NASD: DISH), whom TiVo is suing for infringing the patent on its own recorders.

tags: Lawsuits | TiVo | DVR | EchoStar | Patents |

WSJ: AT&T Close to Bid for EchoStar or DirecTV

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 24, 2007 - 10:06am.
New York - AT&T, which has been pondering an acquisition in the satellite TV sector, is now closing in on a deal, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing "people familiar with the matter."