Case Details

Year Initiated/Committed

2002

Settlement Amount

n/a

Court

U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

Docket Number

1:02CV02138

Lead State

CA, MO, NY, PA, TX, VT

Participating States

AR, CA, CT, DC, HI, IA, ID, IL, KY, MA, ME, MO, MS, MT, NC, NV, NY

Defendant(s)

EchoStar Communications Corporation; Hughes Electronics Corporation; General Motors Corporation; DirecTV Enterprises, Inc.

Case Description

Federal and State action to enjoin merger of two direct broadcast satellite (DBS) companies. Suit alleged that the merger would result in a monopoly in numerous local multichannel video programming distribution markets, a duopoly in many more local markets, and a substantial lessening of competition in the remaining markets, impacting at least 95% of U.S. television households. Following preliminary scheduling orders the parties to the merger agreement abandoned their merger and the case was dismissed.