Other Investments

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]

The following table presents the components of Other investments, net:



	As of
	March 31, 2020		December 31, 2019
Other investments, net:
Equity method investments	$	163,689	$	166,209
Other equity investments	43,364		66,627
Other debt investments, net	91,094		92,569
Total other investments, net	$	298,147	$	325,405

Equity Method Investments

Dish Mexico

We own 49% of Dish Mexico and its subsidiaries, a joint venture that we entered into in 2008 to provide direct-to-home satellite services in Mexico. Historically, we provided certain satellite services to Dish Mexico. However, following the consummation of the BSS Transaction, we no longer provide these services.

Deluxe/EchoStar LLC

We own 50% of Deluxe/EchoStar LLC (“Deluxe”), a joint venture that we entered into in 2010 to build an advanced digital cinema satellite distribution network targeting delivery to digitally equipped theaters in the U.S. and Canada. We recognized revenue from Deluxe for transponder services and the sale of broadband equipment of $1.3 million and $0.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, we had trade accounts receivable from Deluxe of $1.0 million and $0.6 million, respectively.

Broadband Connectivity Solutions (Restricted) Limited

In August 2018, we entered into an agreement with Yahsat to establish a new entity, Broadband Connectivity Solutions (Restricted) Limited (together with its subsidiaries, “BCS”), to provide commercial Ka-band satellite broadband services across Africa, the Middle East and southwest Asia operating over Yahsat’s Al Yah 2 and Al Yah 3 Ka-band satellites. The transaction was consummated in December 2018 when we invested $100.0 million in cash in exchange for a 20% interest in BCS. Under the terms of the agreement, we may also acquire, for further cash investments, additional ownership interests in BCS in the future provided certain conditions are met. We supply network operations and management services and equipment to BCS. We recognized revenue from BCS for such services and equipment of $1.7 million and $2.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, we had trade accounts receivable from BCS of $4.5 million and $5.2 million, respectively.

Other Equity Investments

During the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, we recorded a $21.3 million and a $28.7 million, respectively, reduction to the carrying amount of our investments based on circumstances that indicated the fair value of the investment was less than its carrying amount.

Other Debt Investments, Net

The following table presents our other debt investments, net:



	As of
	March 31, 2020			December 31, 2019
Other debt investments, net:
Cost basis	$	103,768		$	102,878
Discount	(10,442		)	(10,309		)
Allowance for credit losses	(2,232		)	—
Total other debt investments, net	$	91,094		$	92,569

The following table presents the activity in our allowance for credit losses:



	Balance at Beginning of Period		Credit Losses⁽¹⁾		Deductions		Balance at End of Period
For the three months ended:
March 31, 2020	$	—	$	2,232	$	—	$	2,232

⁽¹⁾ The impact of adopting ASC 326 on January 1, 2020 was a $2.1 million adjustment to Accumulated earnings (losses).

During the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, we recorded interest income related to these debt instruments of $3.3 million and zero, respectively.