Dish Launches Prepaid Option

Englewood, Colo. — EchoStar Communications Corp. has begun to offer a prepaid card service to would-be Dish Network subscribers.

As a way to target consumers with no credit history or bad credit, the direct-broadcast satellite company rolled out the Dish Now! program at the end of last year, with Dish Network retailers.

The program is similar to prepaid phone cards, and enables customers to pay get and pay for Dish service in advance without a credit card, monthly bill or contract.

A consumer can buy a $30 prepaid card, which will give him or her a month’s worth of America’s Top 60 programming, or the Dish Latino basic package.