Digital Trends – Back in April when Dish Network paid some $320 million to take over Blockbusterâs retail video rental operations, the company said it planned to keep some 1,500 Blockbuster locations operating, as well as keep some 15,000 Blockbuster employees on the books to keep thing humming along. Now, however, Dish Network is admitted itâs going to be able to keep fewer Blockbusters operating than it had originally projectedâalthough it hadnât yet determined how many that might be, or when the closings might take place.