Key keywords: Dish DBS bankruptcy, satellite pay-TV provider, Chapter 11 filing, Dish Network debt restructuring, pay-TV cord-cutting trend, Sling TV performance, US telecom industry disruption, pay-TV subscriber decline Citing four anonymous sources familiar with internal deliberations, this exclusive report confirms that leading U.S. satellite pay-TV operator Dish DBS is finalizing preparations for a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing as early as the end of next week, after months of failed negotiations with creditors over $12.7 billion in maturing long-term debt. For nearly a decade, Dish DBS has faced steep, sustained headwinds from the global cord-cutting movement, as millions of consumers abandon linear satellite and cable TV packages in favor of lower-cost, on-demand streaming platforms including Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video. Public financial filings show the company has lost more than 7 million satellite pay-TV subscribers since 2017, with its core subscriber base shrinking to just 4.2 million at the end of the first quarter of 2024. Dish DBS previously attempted to pivot away from its declining legacy satellite business by launching Sling TV, one of the first live TV streaming services in the U.S., and investing more than $10 billion in 5G wireless spectrum licenses to build a national telecom network. However, both initiatives have fallen far short of internal projections: Sling TV has lost 1.1 million subscribers over the past two years amid fierce competition from YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV, while its 5G rollout has been delayed repeatedly, generating less than $50 million in annual revenue to date. Negotiations with secured and unsecured creditors over a debt restructuring plan have stalled since March 2024, with creditors rejecting the company’s proposal to swap debt for equity in its 5G business, citing the division’s poor performance and uncertain long-term value. If Dish DBS proceeds with the Chapter 11 filing, it will mark one of the largest telecom industry bankruptcies in the U.S. since 2020. Company representatives stated that they do not comment on “rumors or speculation about financial planning” when contacted for confirmation. For existing Dish DBS and Sling TV subscribers, service is expected to continue uninterrupted during the bankruptcy process, as Chapter 11 rules allow companies to continue normal operations while restructuring their obligations. Industry analysts note that creditors will likely push for the sale of high-value assets including Dish’s satellite spectrum licenses and Sling TV intellectual property in the coming months to repay outstanding debts.