In March, the company agreed to buy the satellite operator DBSD North America for about $1.4 billion once it emerged from bankruptcy. Ergen, through another venture, EchoStar, has been buying up debt in the satellite company TerreStar Networks. In February, EchoStar announced plans to buy Hughes Communications, the satellite Internet company, for $1.3 billion. With Blockbuster, The Times suggests that Dish Network gains a large retail presence through which it can potentially sell services.