v3.26.1
Leases
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2026
Leases  
Leases
9.Leases

Lessee Accounting

Prior to the filing of the Prepackaged Chapter 11 Cases, we had non-cancelable operating leases for, among other things, communication towers related to the DISH Wireless Deconsolidated Subsidiaries, which represented substantially all of our operating leases.

We enter into non-cancelable operating and finance leases for, among other things, satellites, satellite-related ground infrastructure, data centers, office space, dark fiber and transport equipment, warehouses and distribution centers, vehicles and other equipment.

Substantially all of our leases have remaining lease terms from one to 12 years, with a weighted average remaining lease term of 7.9 to 8.3 years, some of which include renewal options, and some of which include options to terminate the leases within one year. For certain arrangements, the lease term includes the non-cancelable period plus the renewal period that we are reasonably certain to exercise.

Our Eutelsat 65 West A, Telesat T19V and EchoStar 105/SES-11 satellites are accounted for as finance leases within our Broadband and Satellite Services segment. Through the first quarter of 2025, our Anik F3 satellite was accounted for as an operating lease within our Pay-TV segment and as of April 2025 we no longer leased this satellite. In addition, through May 2026, our Nimiq 5 satellite was accounted for as an operating lease. However, we modified the Nimiq 5 lease effective June 2026, and it is currently accounted for as a finance lease within our Pay-TV segment and is depreciated over its economic life.

The components of lease expense were as follows:

For the Three Months Ended 

For the Six Months Ended 

June 30,

June 30,

  ​ ​ ​

2026

  ​ ​ ​

2025

  ​ ​ ​

2026

  ​ ​ ​

2025

(In thousands)

Operating lease cost

$

122,407

$

166,505

$

250,398

$

333,862

Short-term lease cost (1)

2,507

3,051

5,638

8,341

Finance lease cost:

Amortization of right-of-use assets

4,389

13,238

7,496

26,469

Interest on lease liabilities

1,395

1,342

2,223

2,844

Total finance lease cost

5,784

14,580

9,719

29,313

Total lease costs

$

130,698

$

184,136

$

265,755

$

371,516

(1)Leases that have terms of 12 months or less.

Supplemental cash flow information related to leases was as follows:

For the Six Months Ended 

June 30,

  ​ ​ ​

2026

  ​ ​ ​

2025

(In thousands)

Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:

Operating cash flows from operating leases

$

63,397

$

284,667

Operating cash flows from finance leases

$

763

$

2,314

Financing cash flows from finance leases

$

904

$

11,406

Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations:

Operating leases

$

28,223

$

110,400

Finance leases

$

125,546

$

Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases was as follows:

As of

June 30,

December 31,

  ​ ​ ​

2026

  ​ ​ ​

2025

(In thousands)

Operating Leases: (1)

Operating lease assets

$

66,696

$

214,549

Other current liabilities

$

23,198

$

845,326

Operating lease liabilities

120,325

4,137,269

Total operating lease liabilities

$

143,523

$

4,982,595

Finance Leases: (2)

Property and equipment, gross

$

209,257

$

83,141

Accumulated depreciation

(11,600)

(5,124)

Property and equipment, net

$

197,657

$

78,017

Other current liabilities

$

11,288

$

41,520

Other long-term liabilities

113,353

2,528

Total finance lease liabilities

$

124,641

$

44,048

Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term:

Operating leases

7.9 years

9.5 years

Finance leases

8.3 years

0.8 years

Weighted Average Discount Rate:

Operating leases

9.1%

9.9%

Finance leases

7.3%

10.0%

(1)The June 30, 2026 decreases primarily resulted from the Deconsolidated Subsidiaries. See Note 3 for further information.
(2)The June 30, 2026 decreases primarily resulted from the Deconsolidated Subsidiaries, offset by an increase primarily related to the Nimiq 5 satellite. Our prior operating lease was modified in June 2026 and is currently accounted for as a finance lease.

Maturities of lease liabilities as of June 30, 2026 were as follows:

Maturities of Lease Liabilities

Operating

Finance

For the Years Ending December 31,

  ​ ​ ​

Leases

  ​ ​ ​

Leases

  ​ ​ ​

Total

(In thousands)

2026 (remaining six months)

$

16,319

$

10,000

$

26,319

2027

30,175

20,000

50,175

2028

25,685

20,000

45,685

2029

23,258

20,000

43,258

2030

20,463

20,000

40,463

Thereafter

82,427

76,667

159,094

Total lease payments

198,327

166,667

364,994

Less: Imputed interest

(54,804)

(42,026)

(96,830)

Total

143,523

124,641

268,164

Less: Current portion

(23,198)

(11,288)

(34,486)

Long-term portion of lease obligations

$

120,325

$

113,353

$

233,678

Lessor Accounting

We lease satellite capacity, communications equipment and real estate to certain of our customers.

The following table presents our lease revenue by type of lease:

For the Three Months Ended 

For the Six Months Ended 

June 30,

June 30,

  ​ ​ ​

2026

  ​ ​ ​

2025

  ​ ​ ​

2026

  ​ ​ ​

2025

(In thousands)

Lease revenue:

Sales-type lease revenue

$

812

$

1,787

$

1,573

$

3,984

Operating lease revenue

4,381

2,014

8,185

4,415

Total lease revenue

$

5,193

$

3,801

$

9,758

$

8,399

Substantially all of our net investment in sales-type leases consisted of lease receivables totaling $17 million and $20 million as of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively.

The following table presents future operating lease payments to be received as of June 30, 2026:

For the Years Ending December 31,

  ​ ​ ​

Total

(In thousands)

2026 (remaining six months)

$

9,078

2027

8,874

2028

4,517

2029

3,286

2030

2,182

Thereafter

708

Total lease payments to be received

$

28,645