Too Late For EchoStar Bid For Primestar?

EchoStar puts forth $600 million offer to purchase Primestarís coveted high-power satellite spectrum and satellites. EchoStar Communications Corporation has sent a letter of intent to Primestar Inc. notifying the board of directors that EchoStar will offer to buy the companyís high-power satellite assets for $100 million more than the $500 million that DirecTV parent Hughes Electronics agreed to pay in December in a two-part overall purchase of Primestarís entire business for $1.83 billion.But DirecTV shay it has an ironclad contract with Primestar and approval from the Justice Department that will thwart EchoStarís effort to outbid DirecTV. DirecTV says the company is moving forward with its acquisition of Primestar.Meanwhile, EchoStar is offering Primestar dealers up to $350 if they switch a Primestar subscriber to switch to EchoStar. EchoStar is offering its antenna and set-top box equipment free to Primestarís subscribers who switch