DISH Exits Chapter 11 While DISH Wireless Stays Stuck: What It Means for DISH TV Customers
The short answer: If you have DISH satellite TV, you don't need to do anything. DISH DBS, the EchoStar company behind DISH TV and Sling TV, came out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy on October 1, 2026. DISH TV stayed on throughout the case, and EchoStar hasn't announced any change to DISH packages, prices, contracts or equipment because of the exit. The part of DISH that's still in bankruptcy court is DISH Wireless, the unit shutting down DISH's old 5G phone network. Its fight with tower companies is on a separate track from your TV service.
What it means for DISH TV customers right now (as of October 7, 2026):
Related guides: DIRECTV Pricing: Are You Paying Too Much?.
- Service: No change. DISH TV and Sling TV kept running during the case and are still running.
- Your bill: No bankruptcy-related price change has been announced. Normal price changes can still happen. DISH's own offer terms say taxes, surcharges, add-on channels and some fees aren't covered by its 2-year price guarantee.
- Your contract: Nothing announced changes your existing DISH agreement, including any early termination fee. DISH's current offer terms list that fee as $20 for each month left.
- Equipment: Keep using your Hopper and Joey receivers and your dish. Nothing needs to be swapped or re-aimed.
- Boost Mobile: EchoStar has said Boost Mobile and Gen Mobile were never part of these bankruptcy cases.
Thinking about whether to stay with DISH or switch? Call American TV at 1-855-690-9884 and we'll compare DIRECTV options at your address.
What happened: DISH DBS is out, DISH Wireless isn't
DISH's TV and wireless businesses went into Chapter 11 together but are now on separate tracks. Here's the timeline from EchoStar's SEC filings:
- June 30, 2026: DISH DBS and some of its subsidiaries, including DISH Wireless, filed prepackaged Chapter 11 cases in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas in Houston.
- August 27, 2026: The companies split the case into two separate plans, one for DISH DBS and one for DISH Wireless.
- September 29, 2026: The court confirmed the DISH DBS plan. Our earlier article, DISH's bankruptcy plan approved: what it means, covers that ruling.
- October 1, 2026: The DISH DBS plan took effect and DISH DBS left bankruptcy. In its October 2 filing, EchoStar says that between the restructuring, paying off notes that came due July 1, 2026, and paying down part of the notes due December 1, 2026, DISH DBS cut its total debt by about $4.35 billion.
DISH is coming out of bankruptcy with fewer customers than it had a year ago. EchoStar reported 4.68 million DISH TV subscribers and 1.71 million Sling TV subscribers at the end of June, after losing about 241,000 pay-TV customers in the second quarter (more on DISH's Q2 losses).
Why DISH Wireless is still stuck
DISH Wireless is the unit that built DISH's 5G network. It's now shutting that network down after EchoStar sold its wireless spectrum to AT&T and SpaceX. Tower companies, including Crown Castle, American Tower and SBA Communications, say DISH Wireless broke its lease contracts and owes them billions of dollars. DISH Wireless argues it's excused from those contracts because EchoStar was pushed into selling the spectrum during a Federal Communications Commission investigation.
As a condition of approving the spectrum sales, the FCC required a $2.4 billion fund to cover claims like these. That fund is handled outside the bankruptcy case. The tower lawsuits have been paused since mid-September so the two sides can try to settle. Light Reading, citing Broadband Breakfast, reported that the pause now runs until November 4, 2026.
Why it doesn't touch your TV: The tower fight is about leases for cell sites, not satellites, and the DISH TV business has already finished its own plan. The equipment in dispute is on cell towers, not on your roof.
DISH vs. DIRECTV: side-by-side prices and terms
If the bankruptcy news has you comparing providers, here are the advertised satellite prices and terms from each company's website. DISH figures were checked on DISH's packages page on October 7, 2026. DIRECTV figures were checked on DIRECTV's satellite page and offer details on October 5, 2026, the most recent check we could complete, because DIRECTV's site blocked our automated checks on October 7. Advertised prices are for new customers. Your own bill may differ.
| Package level | DISH (satellite) | DIRECTV (satellite) |
|---|---|---|
| Entry package | America's Top 120: $94.99/mo., 190 channels | ENTERTAINMENT: $94.99/mo. for 24 months, 175+ channels |
| Second tier | America's Top 120+: $104.99/mo., 190+ channels | CHOICE: $99.99/mo. for 24 months, 215+ channels |
| Third tier | America's Top 200: $114.99/mo., 240+ channels | ULTIMATE: $129.99/mo. for 24 months, 280+ channels |
| Top tier | America's Top 250: $124.99/mo., 290+ channels | PREMIER: $174.99/mo. for 24 months, 350+ channels |
| Term | DISH | DIRECTV |
|---|---|---|
| Contract | 2-year commitment | 24-month agreement |
| Early termination fee | $20 for each month left | $20 per month left, up to $480 |
| Price guarantee | 2 years. Covers the package, local channels and a Hopper 3 DVR (plus extra TVs on higher tiers) | 2 years, with the 24-month agreement. Taxes and some fees are excluded |
| Required monthly add-ons | $5–$7 for each extra TV beyond what's included ($10–$15 for receivers with more features) | $10/mo. TV Access Fee, plus a Regional Sports Fee of up to $23.99/mo. on CHOICE and higher |
| Price after the guarantee | DISH's then-current price. Listed as $107.99 (Top 120), $112.99 (Top 120+), $122.99 (Top 200) and $132.99 (Top 250) as of October 7 | Not listed on DIRECTV's satellite offer page |
| Sign-up requirements | Credit qualification and eAutoPay. Upfront fees may apply depending on credit | Autopay and paperless billing. $49.95 one-time activation fee |
| Regional sports networks | Check DISH's lineup for your ZIP code | Included with CHOICE and higher where available. Varies by ZIP code |
What the tables show: The entry prices are the same at $94.99. DIRECTV's $10 TV Access Fee raises its actual entry cost to $104.99, the same as DISH's Top 120+. DISH's top two tiers cost less. DISH's entry package lists more channels, but from the second tier up DIRECTV lists more channels and includes regional sports networks starting with CHOICE. Want an all-in quote for your ZIP code? Call 1-855-690-9884.
Your DISH customer checklist
- Don't do anything just to keep your service. There's nothing to re-sign, re-register or reinstall because of the bankruptcy exit.
- Find your agreement end date. Check your MyDISH account or your original agreement. If you're thinking of leaving early, multiply the months left by $20 to estimate the fee (if your agreement uses DISH's current terms).
- Know when your price guarantee ends. Based on DISH's October 7 offer terms, the price after two years is $13 a month higher for America's Top 120 ($94.99 to $107.99) and $8 a month higher for Top 120+, Top 200 and Top 250. Older agreements may use different rates.
- Check your bill for charges outside the guarantee. DISH lists taxes and surcharges, add-on and premium channels, DISH Protect ($12.99/mo. after six free months, if you chose it) and transactional fees as not included.
- Be wary of "bankruptcy" calls. The exit doesn't require anything from customers. Treat any call, text or door knock that says you must pay or switch because of DISH's bankruptcy as a red flag, and only use the contact details on your bill. See how to spot fake DISH and DIRECTV reps.
- If you're shopping, compare the full monthly cost. Add DIRECTV's TV Access Fee and any Regional Sports Fee, or DISH's fees for extra TVs, before deciding. Our DIRECTV pricing guide explains each fee.
- If you switch, time it. Weigh any early termination fee against what you'd save, and return leased DISH equipment the way DISH tells you to.
Should you stay with DISH or switch?
Staying probably makes sense if you have many months left on your agreement, you like your Hopper DVR and channel lineup, or you're on America's Top 200 or Top 250, where DISH's advertised prices are lower than DIRECTV's ULTIMATE and PREMIER.
Switching is worth pricing out if your agreement or price guarantee ends soon, you want your regional sports network (DIRECTV includes RSNs on CHOICE and higher where available), or you want more channels on a mid-tier package. For a deeper look, see DISH vs. DIRECTV: cost, plans and more, is it worth switching from DISH to DIRECTV? and the full DIRECTV packages and DISH channel lineup pages.
Frequently asked questions
Is DISH out of bankruptcy?
Yes, the TV side is. DISH DBS, which runs DISH TV and Sling TV, left Chapter 11 on October 1, 2026, after the court confirmed its plan on September 29.
Is DISH Wireless out of bankruptcy too?
No. DISH Wireless is still in its own court-supervised case while it disputes tower company claims. The tower lawsuits are reported to be paused until November 4, 2026, to allow settlement talks.
Will my DISH bill go up because of the bankruptcy?
EchoStar hasn't announced any price change tied to the bankruptcy exit. Your bill can still change for the usual reasons, such as a price guarantee ending, a general price increase, or add-ons and fees that aren't covered by the guarantee.
Can I cancel DISH without an early termination fee because of the bankruptcy?
Nothing in the company's announcements says the case waives early termination fees. Check your agreement. DISH's current offer terms list the fee as $20 for each month left.
Is Boost Mobile or HughesNet part of the DISH TV bankruptcy?
No. EchoStar has said Boost Mobile and Gen Mobile weren't part of these cases. Hughes, the company behind HughesNet, filed its own separate Chapter 11 case in early August, according to Light Reading.
Comparing DISH and DIRECTV at your address? Call American TV at 1-855-690-9884.
Details reviewed October 7, 2026 (ET). Case details come from EchoStar's SEC filings and trade press reports and may change. DISH package prices and terms were checked on DISH's website on October 7, 2026, and DIRECTV satellite prices and terms on DIRECTV's website on October 5, 2026. Advertised prices are for new customers, vary by location and can change. This article is general consumer information, not legal or financial advice. DISH, Sling TV, Boost Mobile, Gen Mobile, HughesNet, EchoStar, DIRECTV and related marks belong to their respective owners. American TV is an independent dealer and resource site.