LITTLETON, CO: Pay-TV broadcaster EchoStar is to sell a 37% stake in the company to News Corp. and telecomm MCI WorldCom in return for satellites and broadcast licenses.

Shares in the Colorado-based EchoStar rose on Monday when the deal was announced. By mid-morning the stock had gained three and a half points to 38.5.

As part of the deal News Corp. will gain 24.3 million Class A shares and MCI WorldCom will gain six million.

In return, News Corp. will ...