# EchoStar CORP: Form 10-Q for the period ended Sep 30, 2009

- Company: [EchoStar CORP](/companies/echo.md) (CIK 1415404)
- Form: 10-Q
- Filed: 2009-11-09
- Accepted by EDGAR: Nov 9, 2009, 11:01 ET
- Period: 2009-09-30
- Accession: 0001047469-09-009775
- Inline XBRL: no
- Main document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1415404/000104746909009775/a2195329z10-q.htm
- All documents and exhibits: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1415404/000104746909009775/

## Management's discussion and analysis

As filed, 4,155 characters.

remaining commitment, approximately $27 million is expected to be paid in cash and the remaining amounts may be satisfied in the form of certain services or equipment. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, we sold $6 million and $11 million, respectively, of set-top boxes and related accessories to DISH Mexico that are not related to the original commitment associated with our investment in DISH Mexico. As of September 30, 2009, amounts receivable from DISH Mexico totaled $1 million.

During June of 2009, we entered into an agreement to form a Taiwanese joint venture, for a DTH service in Taiwan and certain other targeted regions in Asia. Pursuant to these arrangements, we sell hardware such as digital set-top boxes and provide certain technical support services. Subject to a number of conditions, including regulatory approvals and entry into various other arrangements, we committed to provide $18 million of cash, of which $8 million has been deposited into an escrow account to be used for ongoing expenses until the final regulatory approvals are received, and an $18 million line of credit that the joint venture may only use to purchase set-top boxes from us. As of September 30, 2009, no amounts have been drawn on the line of credit.

***Dependence on DISH Network.*** We currently depend on DISH Network for a substantial portion of the revenue for our "Digital Set-Top Box" business and we expect for the foreseeable future that DISH Network will continue to be the primary source of revenue for each of our businesses. Therefore, our results of operations are and will for the foreseeable future be closely linked to the performance of DISH Network's satellite pay-TV business. In addition, because the number of potential new customers for our "Digital Set-Top Box" business is small and may be limited by our common ownership and related management with DISH Network, our current customer concentration is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.

Changes in DISH Network subscriber growth could have a material adverse affect on our digital set-top box sales. In particular, weaknesses in the economy and other factors adversely affecting DISH Network, such as the decision by AT&T to terminate its distribution agreement with DISH Network effective January 31, 2009, may have an adverse impact on us. According to DISH Network's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, its relationship with AT&T accounted for approximately 17% of DISH Network's gross subscriber additions. Furthermore, to the extent that DISH Network subscriber growth decreases as a result of weakened economic conditions in the United States or otherwise, sales of our digital set-top boxes to DISH Network may decline.

The impact to us of any weakening of DISH Network subscriber growth may be offset over the near term by an increase in sales to DISH Network resulting from the upgrade of DISH Network subscribers to advanced products such as high definition ("HD") receivers, digital video recorders ("DVRs") and HD DVRs, as well as by the upgrade of DISH Network digital set-top boxes to new technologies such as MPEG-4 digital compression technology or Slingbox placeshifting technology. However, there can be no assurance that any of these factors will mitigate any weakening of subscriber growth at DISH Network. In addition, although we expect DISH Network to continue to purchase products and services from us, there can be no assurance that DISH Network will continue to purchase products and services from us in the future.

We may experience significant pressure on margins we earn on the sale of digital set-top boxes and other equipment, including on sales to DISH Network. This pressure may be due to current economic conditions, advancements in the technology and functionality of digital set-top boxes and other equipment. The margins we earn on sales are determined largely through periodic negotiations that could result in pricing reflecting, among other things, the digital set-top boxes and other equipment that best meet our customers' current sales and marketing priorities, the product and service

## Market risk

As filed, 3,655 characters.

### Market Risks Associated With Financial Instruments

Our investments and debt are exposed to market risks, discussed below.

### Cash, Cash Equivalents and Current Marketable Investment Securities

As of September 30, 2009, our cash, cash equivalents and current marketable investment securities had a fair value of $935 million. Of that amount, a total of $785 million was invested in: (a) cash; (b) debt instruments of the United States Government and its agencies; (c) commercial paper and corporate notes with an overall average maturity of less than one year and rated in one of the four highest rating categories by at least two nationally recognized statistical rating organizations; and (d) instruments with similar risk, duration and credit quality characteristics to the commercial paper described above. The primary purpose of these investing activities has been to preserve principal until the cash is required to, among other things, fund operations, make strategic investments and expand the business. Consequently, the size of this portfolio fluctuates significantly as cash is received and used in our business. The value of this portfolio is negatively impacted by credit losses; however, this risk is mitigated through diversification that limits our exposure to any one issuer.

#### Interest Rate Risk

A change in interest rates would affect the fair value of our cash, cash equivalents and current marketable investment securities portfolio. Based on our September 30, 2009 current non-strategic investment portfolio of $785 million, a hypothetical 10% increase in average interest rates would result in a decrease of approximately $13 million in fair value of this portfolio. We normally hold these investments to maturity; however, the hypothetical loss in fair value would be realized if we sold the investments prior to maturity.

Our cash, cash equivalents and current marketable investment securities had an average annual rate of return for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 of 1.5%. A change in interest rates would affect our future annual interest income from this portfolio, since funds would be re-invested at different rates as the instruments mature. A hypothetical 10% decrease in average interest rates during 2009 would result in a decrease of approximately $1 million in annual interest income.

#### Strategic Marketable Investment Securities

As of September 30, 2009, we held strategic and financial debt and equity investments of public companies with a fair value of $149 million. These investments, which are held for strategic and financial purposes, are concentrated in a small number of companies, are highly speculative and have experienced and continue to experience volatility. The fair value of our strategic and financial debt and equity investments can be significantly impacted by the risk of adverse changes in securities markets generally, as well as risks related to the performance of the companies whose securities we have invested in, risks associated with specific industries, and other factors. These investments are subject to significant fluctuations in fair value due to the volatility of the securities markets and of the underlying businesses. In general, the debt instruments held in our strategic marketable investment securities portfolio are not significantly impacted by interest rate fluctuations as their value is more closely related to factors specific to the underlying business. A hypothetical 10% adverse change in the price of our public strategic debt and equity investments would result in a decrease of approximately $15 million in the fair value of these investments.

## Controls and procedures

As filed, 846 characters.

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) during our most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

## Risk factors

As filed, 6,586 characters.

Item 1A, "Risk Factors," of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 includes a detailed discussion of our risk factors. The information presented below updates, and should be read in conjunction with, the risk factors and information disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2008.

***If we are unsuccessful in overturning the District Court's ruling on Tivo's motion for contempt, we are not successful in developing and deploying potential new alternative technology and we are unable to reach a license agreement with Tivo on reasonable terms, we would be subject to substantial liability and would be prohibited from offering DVR functionality that would in turn place us at a significant disadvantage to our competitors and significantly decrease sales of digital set-top boxes to DISH Network and others.***

In June 2009, the United States District Court granted Tivo's motion for contempt finding that our next-generation DVRs continue to infringe Tivo's intellectual property and awarded Tivo an additional $103 million dollars in supplemental damages and interest for the period from September 2006 through April 2008. In September 2009, the District Court partially granted Tivo's motion for contempt sanctions. In partially granting Tivo's motion for contempt sanctions, the District Court awarded $2.25 per DVR subscriber per month for the period from April 2008 to July 2009 (as compared to the award for supplemental damages for the prior period from September 2006 to April 2008, which was based on an assumed $1.25 per DVR subscriber per month). By the District Court's estimation, the total award for the period from April 2008 to July 2009 is approximately $200 million (the enforcement of the award has been stayed by the District Court pending our appeal of the underlying June 2009 contempt order).

If we are unsuccessful in overturning the District Court's ruling on Tivo's motion for contempt, we are not successful in developing and deploying potential new alternative technology and we are unable to reach a license agreement with Tivo on reasonable terms, we would be required to cease distribution of digital set-top boxes with DVR functionality. In that event, our sales of digital set-top boxes to DISH Network and others would likely significantly decrease and could even potentially cease for a period of time. Furthermore, the inability to offer DVR functionality would place us at a significant disadvantage to our competitors and make it even more difficult for us to penetrate new markets for digital set-top boxes. The adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations if the District Court's contempt order is upheld is likely to be significant.

If we are successful in overturning the District Court's ruling on Tivo's motion for contempt, but unsuccessful in defending against any subsequent claim that our original alternative technology or any potential new alternative technology infringes Tivo's patent, we could be prohibited from distributing DVRs. In that event we would be at a significant disadvantage to our competitors who could continue offering DVR functionality and the adverse effect on our business could be material.

Because both we and DISH Network are defendants in the Tivo lawsuit, we and DISH Network are jointly and severally liable to Tivo for any final damages and sanctions that may be awarded by the Court. DISH Network has agreed that it is obligated under the agreements entered into in connection with the Spin-off to indemnify us for substantially all liability arising from this lawsuit. We have agreed to contribute an amount equal to our $5 million intellectual property liability limit under the Receiver Agreement. We and DISH Network have further agreed that our $5 million contribution would not exhaust our liability to DISH Network for other intellectual property claims that may arise under the Receiver Agreement. Therefore, during the second quarter of 2009, we recorded a charge included in "General and administrative expenses—DISH Network" on our Condensed Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) of $5 million to reflect this contribution. We and DISH Network also agreed that we would each be entitled to joint ownership of, and a cross-license to use, any intellectual property developed in connection with any potential new alternative technology.

Because we are jointly and severally liable with DISH Network, to the extent that DISH Network does not or is unable to pay any damages or sanctions arising from this lawsuit, we would then be liable for any portion of these damages and sanctions not paid by DISH Network. Any amounts that DISH Network may be required to pay could impair its ability to pay us and also negatively impact our future liquidity.

If we become liable for any portion of these damages or sanctions, we may be required to raise additional capital at a time and in circumstances in which we would normally not raise capital. Therefore, any capital we raise may be on terms that are unfavorable to us, which might adversely affect our financial position and results of operations and might also impair our ability to raise capital on acceptable terms in the future to fund our own operations and initiatives.

***The average selling price and gross margins of our digital set-top boxes has been decreasing and may decrease even further, which could negatively impact our financial position and results of operations.***

The average selling price and gross margins of our digital set-top boxes has been decreasing and may decrease even further due to, among other things, an increase in the sales of lower-priced digital set top boxes to DISH Network and increased pricing pressure on our average selling prices, including sales to Bell TV as a result of the February 6, 2009 amendment to our agreement with Bell TV. Furthermore, our ability to increase the average selling prices of our digital set-top boxes is limited and our average selling price may decrease even further in response to competitive pricing pressures, new product introductions by us or our competitors or other factors. If we are unable to increase or at least maintain the average selling prices of our digital set-top boxes, or if such selling prices further decline, and we are unable to respond in a timely manner by developing and introducing new products and continually reducing our product costs, our revenues and gross margin may be negatively affected, which will harm our financial position and results of operations.

Filed Nov 9, 2009.
Source: SEC EDGAR, the filing index for accession 0001047469-09-009775. Last ingested by Listed: Nov 3, 2026, 08:39 ET. No prices; not investment advice.