EON

Boston (EON) – EchoStar Communications has announced that it is buying Sling Media for $380 million.

The move will give Sling Media, which is privately held, access to 13.6 million of DISH satellite TV network customers. It will also have access to the EchoStar line of digital video recorders.

Charles Ergen, the chief executive of EchoStar stated that “This combination paves the way for the development of a host of new innovative products and services for our subscribers, new digital media consumers and strategic partners.”

Sling Media sells devices which transmit television shows from a consumer’s TV to a remote computer in another location, or even a cell phone.

It is possible that EchoStar will put Sling Media under the DISH brand or turn it into a separate unit.

Ergen and EchoStar were actually early investors in Sling Media so it is possible that this was in the works for quite some time.