[Satellite TODAY 04-15-13] DISH Network Corporation has announced its intentions to acquire the third largest wireless carrier in the United States. The company has submitted a merger proposal to the Board of Directors of Sprint Nextel Corporation for a total consideration of $25.5 billion, consisting of $17.3 billion in cash and $8.2 billion in stock, which could put an end to Softbank’s efforts to take over the carrier. Under DISH’s proposal, Sprint shareholders would receive $7.00 per share, based upon DISH’s closing price on Friday, April 12, 2013.

 

     “A transformative DISH/Sprint merger will create the only company that can offer customers a convenient, fully-integrated, nationwide bundle of in- and out-of-home video, broadband and voice services. Additionally, the combined national footprints and scale will allow DISH/Sprint to bring improved broadband services to millions of homes with inferior or no access to competitive broadband services. This unique, combined company will have a leadership position in video, data and voice and the necessary broadband spectrum to provide customers with rich content everywhere, all the time,” said Charlie Ergen, chairman of DISH Network.