DISH Network Commercial Services

Multiple Dwelling Units (MDU)

Digital-quality programming is now available to MDU residents via one centrally located and shared dish per common rooftop. Multiple Dwelling Units are considered either as a primary or secondary place of residence that is MDU (Multiple Dwelling Units).


Properties that qualify as an MDU are:

    Apartment Complexes Condo Associations
    Duplexes/Townhouses Mobile Home Parks
    Retirement Homes Dorms/Frat. & Sorority Houses

The methods to deliver DISH Network to an MDU property are:

The newest addition to the MDU program is our MDU Residential model. It was created to provide properties a single dish solution, while giving each subscriber the ability to choose their own programming. Each subscriber will receive an individual programming bill directly from EchoStar. This method of delivering DISH Network programming to an MDU environment has a little or no up front cost to the property owner. [The dealer may rent hardware to the property, and share profits with the property owner, at his discretion.] In this model, the dealer must first secure a DBS exclusive right of entry (ROE) agreement from a qualified property. The agreement must state that DISH Network/EchoStar and the dealer have exclusive DBS rights on that property for at least 5 years. The equipment used is a commercially invoiced EchoStar 2700 receiver priced at $250. Upon activation with a 5 year ROE, EchoStar will then pay the dealer a $250 activation fee, a $50 installation fee and a 5% monthly commission on programming, excluding PPV. With a 7 year ROE, EchoStar will pay the dealer a $250 activation fee, a $75 installation fee and a 10% monthly commission of programming, excluding PPV.

MDU Rate Card  PDF File(706kb.pdf).

MDU Activation Form PDF File.

This is a very economical way to provide satellite service to an entire property. In this model the The property owner would be responsible for purchasing the hardware and installation costs up front, and then they will be billed on a monthly basis for programming. The property owner can either roll the costs of programming, hardware and installation into the rent or bill each tenant individually. There are four rules of bulk programming that must be followed when installing either a SMATV (head-end) or L-Band (receiver in each unit) system:

  • 1. The service must go to 100% of the property
  • 2. All tenants receive the same programming (no individual choices, NO PPV)
  • 3. The programming cannot be marked up (management, installation, access or administrative fees etc. may be charged), but the amount charged for programming must be the same amount as the amount billed to the property.
  • 4. A qualified property must have a minimum of 10 units.
  • 5. Due to lower programming margins, compared with the residential model, the commercial hardware is not subsidized, therefore resulting in more expensive hardware.

    The cost to build a hend End system is estimated between $500-$800 per channel, depending on the specific equipment used.

MDU Rate Card  PDF File(706kb.pdf).

MDU Bulk Activation Form PDF File.

If a property does not fit into either MDU Residential or MDU Bulk, follow a standard residential installation & programming rates.

In order to decide what method is best for a property a few questions need to be considered:

  • Is there currently any video service being provided (cable, satellite)?
  • If so, what exactly are they receiving and for how much?
  • Is there a contract with a cable company and when does it end?
  • Is there existing wiring? If so who owns it and can you use it?
  • What type of programming do they want?
  • Does the property owner want to manage the programming or does he just want to have satellite service to those that want to have it?

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