The deals between satellite-TV service providers and telephone companies just keep coming. It seems to be a natural alliance to beat back the threat of cable TV operators that offer a triple play of Internet, video and voice over IP (VoIP) services.

Dallas, Pa.-based Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises Inc. [CTCO], and EchoStar Communications Corporation [DISH], formed a strategic alliance to provide EchoStar’s DISH Network satellite TV services to households in the existing combined footprint of CTE’s two primary operations: Commonwealth Telephone Company (CT) and CTSI LLC (CTSI). This relationship enables CTE to offer its customers digital television programming as part of an array of communications services, which will include broadband DSL high-speed Internet access plus local, long-distance and call-management wireline voice services (e.g., Caller ID and Voice Mail). CTE and EchoStar expect to launch a variety of digital video packages as part of CTE’s bundled service offerings beginning in the first quarter of 2005.

The CTE offer will include a wide selection of DISH Network packages that provide customers with access to more than 500 entertainment, sports, news and children’s channels, plus access to its digital video recorders, high-definition systems and a selection of international and interactive programming. (David G. Weselcouch, Commonwealth Telephone Enter-prises, 570/631-2807)