[Satellite TODAY 04-20-11] Dish Network’s business plans for its recent acquisition of movie rental chain and online streaming video service Blockbuster Inc. will see the company take on leases for more than 500 of Blockbuster’s retail stores, according to Blockbuster’s bankruptcy-court filings dated April 19.
    The U.S. satellite pay-TV operator will close at least 1,000 Blockbuster locations after the acquisition is complete. Dish Network said it purchased Blockbuster primarily for its video-on-demand service to complement Dish Network’s own satellite-TV offering but will use the Blockbuster locations to cross-sell its satellite services.
    Dish Network bought Blockbuster on April 7 for about $320 million, with $228 million of the purchase made in cash. A U.S. bankruptcy court approved the auction the same day. Dish Network expects to close the acquisition in late April or by May 5 at the latest.