Dish Chairman Ergen’s Motives Questioned in Clearwire Bid

Dish Network Corp.’s counterbid for Clearwire Corp., which already agreed to a buyout by majority shareholder Sprint Nextel Corp., has analysts wondering about Dish Chairman Charlie Ergen’s motivations.

The $3.30-a-share offer may disrupt Sprint’s proposal to acquire full control of the wireless network operator’s stock at $2.97 apiece. While it has made no decision to reconsider Sprint’s offer, Clearwire said it plans to talk to Dish and will keep its options open by not drawing on financing offered by Sprint. The Dish bid values Clearwire at about $5 billion.