DirecTV announced Monday it’s buying rival Dish Network, ending multiple decades of on-and-off talks about the satellite services merging.

The DirecTV and Dish merger is subject to regulatory approval and serves as a lifeline for EchoStar, which has no means to pay the $2 billion of its $20 billion debt due by November 14th. DirecTV previously attempted to merge with Dish in 2002,

DirecTV and Dish have agreed to combine in a deal that will create the biggest pay-TV provider in the US. Under the terms of the transaction, DirecTV will acquire Dish from its owner EchoStar Corp. for a nominal consideration of $1 plus the assumption of about $9.