EchoStar Communications Corp. and its Dish Network satellite TV service announced Oct. 4 an agreement to gain access to data provided by Nielsen Media Research.

Nielsen, a provider of television and audience measurement services, monitors the viewing habits of television homes, including Dish Network’s estimated 11.4 million customers. The deal will allow Dish Network to use Nielsen data for marketing, programming and sales research purposes.

In separate news, Echostar began carrying ESPN Deportes, the 24-hour Spanish-language sports network. ESPN Deportes will be available on Dish Network channel 854 to viewers who subscribe to the Dish Latino channel package.