Charlie Ergen's EchoStar reported a second-quarter loss of 241,000 pay-TV subscribers, as the Dish and Sling TV owner continues to be squeezed by cord-cutting and competition from streaming services. Separately, the company's Hughes Network Systems satellite internet division filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Texas to restructure around $1.5 billion in debt, though EchoStar said this would not affect Dish, Sling TV or its other operations.

EchoStar ended the quarter to 30 June 2026 with 6.39 million total pay-TV subscribers, comprising 4.68 million Dish TV and 1.71 million Sling TV customers, while overall revenue fell to $3.58 billion from $3.72 billion a year earlier. Despite the declines, the company posted net income of $8.46 billion, up from a $306 million loss a year ago, though this was driven by a large non-cash gain from deconsolidation; underlying net income was closer to $49.5 million. Pay-TV revenue dropped to $2.24 billion from $2.46 billion, while wireless, broadband and satellite service revenues also edged lower.