Opposition from federal government stopped deal from going through in time.

EchoStar and Hughes Network have scuttled their fight to save a merger that faced unanimous opposition from federal regulators. The decision to end the merger, which would have combined EchoStar's DISH network with Hughes DirecTV service into one mega-satellite TV provider was made because it could not be completed wi

The two companies told the FCC that they would be willing to sell to Cablevision Systems 62 frequencies so it could be better positioned to launch a rival national satellite service.

The U.S. Justice Department and 23 state attorney generals have filed a lawsuit to block EchoStar and DirecTV's proposed $26 billion deal.

The proposed EchoStar-DirecTV satellite television merger got back on schedule July 23 as the FCC restarted its 180-day clock for approval. The clock had been stopped since March 6 at day 78. The 180-day clock is designed to give the merger applicants a timely review by the FCC. But the commission stopped the clock wh

EchoStar said the proposed $6.6 billion deal would reduce consumer choices.

EchoStar Communications Corp. and Hughes Electronics Corp., the parent company of DirecTV, have submitted a proposal to the FCC that will enable the companies, after a prospective merger, to deliver local broadcast TV channels and offer high-speed satellite Internet access to all of the 210 Designated Market Areas in t

It's a financial soap opera that's expected to play out rapidly in the coming weeks now that the key players are free to make new moves.