DTV and Dish Network Discuss Merger Talks Again

[CSM]

Probably save a lot of money on advertising too. When's the last time you saw an ad for Directv? They have to figure at this point the customers willing to consider satellite TV already know Directv and Dish exist.

Are you talking DTV Satellite advertising? DTV has been advertising for DTV over the Net.

 

[jcrandall]

If it is just Dish Network TV Service, I doubt it would be much of a issue with the Government.

If it is for all of Echostar (Boost, 5G Spectrum, etc), that would make it more problematic, it gets the FTC, DoJ and the FCC more involved, for one example, the FCC has limitations on Dish/Echostar about the ability to sell the spectrum.

But again, looking at what AT&T did to DirecTV, I am amazed they are so willing to doing this dance again

I think this is a good assessment of how the FTC would look at this. The TV landscape has change, no concern of consumer issue in DirecTV and Dish merging or an acquisition. Mobile, on the other hand, T-Mobile couldn’t acquire Boost as part of the Spring acquisition due to anti-consumer concerns with only three major players. That said, Boost is not a major player and Echostar execution has been a mess. But the potential concern of AT&T getting Boost would be the same as T-Mobile, nothing has changed there.

If DirecTV acquires Dish, I could see Echostar living on as a wireless only company and continuing trying to grow Boost until the money runs out. The money they get for dish prolongs that. Could see that type of deal being looked at as pro-consumer so to speak, doubt the FTC would stand in the way.

 

[Bruce]

Officials at Dish Network and DirecTV are downplaying reports of a possible merger of the two satellite television platforms, according to several sources who spoke with The Desk on background this week.

In this case, it appears the information for Bloomberg’s weekend scoop came from some at Dish Network, a high-level DirecTV executive told The Desk over the weekend. The executive, who agreed to speak with The Desk on condition of anonymity, said they were “not aware of any conversations with Dish” about a merger, adding they would “definitely be in those meetings” at some point.

The executive said the conversation was “probably casual banter…that someone at Dish decided was newsworthy.” Efforts to reach Dish for comment were not successful.

Rumor mill again swirls around unlikely Dish-DirecTV merger

Officials at Dish Network and DirecTV are downplaying reports of a possible merger of the two satellite television platforms.

thedesk.net

 

[nelson61]

Bloomberg 9/26​

DirecTV, Dish Are Close to Clinching Merger Agreement​

​

DirecTV and Dish are in advanced talks to merge in a deal that would create the largest US pay-TV provider, with almost 20 million subscribers, people familiar with the matter said.

An agreement could be announced as soon as the coming days, according to the people, who asked not to be identified discussing confidential information. DirecTV is in talks to control the combined entity, which will be closely held, the people said.


----

EchoStar and TPG are expected to remain investors, the people said.

The companies are still working through details of how the combination might be structured, according to the people. While talks are advanced, they could still be delayed or falter, the people said.

 

[slice1900]

DirecTV is in talks to control the combined entity

Ah yes, because they have such a crack management team that's been doing such a good job the past few years! Not that there's any saving the idea of lashing the Titanic and the Britannic together and hoping that somehow makes them sink more slowly.

 

[Bruce]

Ah yes, because they have such a crack management team that's been doing such a good job the past few years!

But they only lost 14 Million Subscribers since AT&T purchased DirecTV.

Not that there's any saving the idea of lashing the Titanic and the Britannic together and hoping that somehow makes them sink more slowly.

This story still does not make sense to me, the costs alone in merging the two companies will be astronomical, for less returns.

Currently, DirecTV losses about 2 Million subscribers a year, Dish over a million, those losses will actually increase as Cord Cutting continues , plus the fact that a merged company will bring higher prices, which means it will push more to streaming and the less expensive pricing it provides, along with more content.

 

[Juan]

But they only lost 14 Million Subscribers since AT&T purchased DirecTV.



This story still does not make sense to me, the costs alone in merging the two companies will be astronomical, for less returns.

Currently, DirecTV losses about 2 Million subscribers a year, Dish over a million, those losses will actually increase as Cord Cutting continues , plus the fact that a merged company will bring higher prices, which means it will push more to streaming and the less expensive pricing it provides, along with more content.

Combining the back office functions alone will save millions...as equipment wears out..they just switch them to dish..no need to spend billions for a 1 time cutover..Just wait it out

 

[dlma1]

No dog in this hunt but it is interesting to follow since I used to have DTV (and my sister still does). I knew DTV was in trouble when they lost NFL Sunday Ticket. And Dish has huge debt payments due. According to the WSJ: "The deal, if secured, would give DirecTV’s owners—the telecom giant AT&T and private-equity firm TPG—a way to dramatically cut costs. It would give Dish’s publicly traded owner, EchoStar SATS a vital lifeline ahead of looming debt payments—and offer relief to telecommunications entrepreneur Charlie Ergen, who co-founded EchoStar in 1980. ". And I guess DTV will role its streaming service into Sling TV which is very popular among court cutters.

 

[Bruce]

Combining the back office functions alone will save millions...as equipment wears out..they just switch them to dish..no need to spend billions for a 1 time cutover..Just wait it out

If I remember correctly, neither system (Boxes) is compatible with the other.

 

[Bruce]

And I guess DTV will role its streaming service into Sling TV which is very popular among court cutters.

Sling is not popular, only 2 Million subscribers versus YouTube TV, with over 8 Million.

 

[dlma1]

Sling is not popular, only 2 Million subscribers versus YouTube TV, with over 8 Million.

I stand corrected. I guess my comment was more anecdotal than factual as it seems most of my friends who have cut the cord have switched to Sling TV. And there may be cost savings if they combine DirecTv Stream with Sling, correct?

 

[dlma1]

Are you talking DTV Satellite advertising? DTV has been advertising for DTV over the Net.

Yes, there a lot of those annoying ads with talking pigeons pushing direct TV streaming. But pigeons may be prophetic as far as customers go, right?

 

[Yespage]

EchoStar rises on report of AT&T takeover offer

EchoStar rises on report of AT&T takeover offer

www.denverpost.com

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That doesn't work. Dish became a mobile company to help create another alternative. AT&T can't buy Dish. AT&T has to sever their ties to Directv if regulators were to ever approve this.

 

[navychop]

If Dish can get this looming debt bomb pushed off / stretched out- Why would they need DTV? Wait for the customers to come to you after DTV shuts down. Outwait them.

 

[slice1900]

Combining the back office functions alone will save millions...as equipment wears out..they just switch them to dish..no need to spend billions for a 1 time cutover..Just wait it out

It costs a LOT of money to get to that point. They have their own computer systems for customer information, billing, accounting, etc. and one will have to be converted to the other. That's not cheap, and it will take time before the savings you mention pays back that initial cost.

If Directv is the one controlling the combined entity, and given that they have the superior satellite fleet and more (though not many more these days) customers I think you'll find that if they are "switching" customers over from one to the other it will be from Dish to Directv.

Though in reality I don't expect to see any switching. Both companies probably have warehouses full of refurbished or ready to be refurbished equipment to hand out from all the cord cutters over the past few years. The only reason to do a cutover will be if they cancel the satellite Dish has reportedly ordered. Not sure which arc that is for, or how soon it will be needed, but any affected customers would be converted to use Directv's satellites.

Maybe they'd just need to design them a new dish, worst case it has new electronics to work with Dish's receivers though I suspect Dish's most recent stuff is essentially similar to Directv's SWM so with updated firmware Dish's gear might be able to function directly off a Directv SWM dish.

 

[slice1900]

If I remember correctly, neither system (Boxes) is compatible with the other.

That used to be true, but I'm not so sure given what I understand about Dish's most recent stuff. Sounds an awful lot like channel stacking like SWM (and satellite TV all over the world) uses so they may be compatible with some firmware tweaks in the receiver.

Worst case if you wanted to (for instance) convert a Dish customer to Directv's satellites without forcing them to swap out their set tops, the engineers take the current Directv dish and swap out Directv's SWM chip for something that speaks what Dish receivers understand.

 

[CSM]

It costs a LOT of money to get to that point. They have their own computer systems for customer information, billing, accounting, etc. and one will have to be converted to the other. That's not cheap, and it will take time before the savings you mention pays back that initial cost.

If Directv is the one controlling the combined entity, and given that they have the superior satellite fleet and more (though not many more these days) customers I think you'll find that if they are "switching" customers over from one to the other it will be from Dish to Directv.

Though in reality I don't expect to see any switching. Both companies probably have warehouses full of refurbished or ready to be refurbished equipment to hand out from all the cord cutters over the past few years. The only reason to do a cutover will be if they cancel the satellite Dish has reportedly ordered. Not sure which arc that is for, or how soon it will be needed, but any affected customers would be converted to use Directv's satellites.

Maybe they'd just need to design them a new dish, worst case it has new electronics to work with Dish's receivers though I suspect Dish's most recent stuff is essentially similar to Directv's SWM so with updated firmware Dish's gear might be able to function directly off a Directv SWM dish.

Dish ordered a new satellite.

Maxar secures Dish Network order in its first satellite contract of 2023

Dish Network said April 18 it has ordered a satellite from Maxar Technologies to expand high-definition broadcast services over North America.

spacenews.com

 

[Juan]

It costs a LOT of money to get to that point. They have their own computer systems for customer information, billing, accounting, etc. and one will have to be converted to the other. That's not cheap, and it will take time before the savings you mention pays back that initial cost.

If Directv is the one controlling the combined entity, and given that they have the superior satellite fleet and more (though not many more these days) customers I think you'll find that if they are "switching" customers over from one to the other it will be from Dish to Directv.

Though in reality I don't expect to see any switching. Both companies probably have warehouses full of refurbished or ready to be refurbished equipment to hand out from all the cord cutters over the past few years. The only reason to do a cutover will be if they cancel the satellite Dish has reportedly ordered. Not sure which arc that is for, or how soon it will be needed, but any affected customers would be converted to use Directv's satellites.

Maybe they'd just need to design them a new dish, worst case it has new electronics to work with Dish's receivers though I suspect Dish's most recent stuff is essentially similar to Directv's SWM so with updated firmware Dish's gear might be able to function directly off a Directv SWM dish.

Alot of that stuff is cloud based now a days...computer systems or so 1900s now a days

 

[dishfan82]

I just want to see them get rid of receiver fees . It’s not the tv subscription thats the problem. It’s receiver fees that cause it to get expensive. If they got rid of those it would make the monthly cost better. It shouldn’t cost $120 a month to watch TV.

 

[longhorn23]

I just want to see them get rid of receiver fees . It’s not the tv subscription thats the problem. It’s receiver fees that cause it to get expensive. If they got rid of those it would make the monthly cost better. It shouldn’t cost $120 a month to watch TV.

$120? The premier plan is over $230 now. Without credits, their pricing makes no sense compared to other tv providers.


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