Years ago, very few of our clients had internet as it was expensive (isdn, t1, etc...). Now, they all have it and if it goes down, they go into panic mode. They almost cannot operate without it.
Our remote support cannot operate without it.
Ergen touts chances of a DirecTV-Dish Network merger winning approval
- Thread starter Scott Greczkowski
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Years ago, very few of our clients had internet as it was expensive (isdn, t1, etc...). Now, they all have it and if it goes down, they go into panic mode. They almost cannot operate without it.
Our remote support cannot operate without it.
Maybe so. But if faced with a choice, I would drop or cut back on pay-tv service long before I would drop HSI.
true you can use the HSI to stream stuff
but for the rural people HSI is not an option, neither is cable or fios
While it is true that rural areas would have no competition, I'm not sure how that would make a combined entity uncompetitive Unless they want to cede people like me, who live in an urban area with a choice of TWC and U-verse, they have to keep prices competitive. I bet most TV consumers have at least 1 non-satellite choice. And due to the nature of satellite, they have national prices. I don't think they could charge 1 price to urban and suburban customers, and another to rural customers.
To me, that is not the problem. The problem is technology.
So, would they switch to a single dish solution, like the DirecTV 99/101/103/110/119 dish? Not sure another Dish would reach from 99 to 129 without getting huge, so that slot might be gone. And what would be the fate of 61.5? In any case, think about all the dish repoints to make the extra bandwidth usable. Even DirecTV has been using a 99/101/103 dish in markets with locals not on 119. I mean, we are probably taking 20 million new dishes or more, even of they leave it so one of Dish or DirecTV's SD customers keep their Dish. And they would have to switch to either N3 or NDS encryption. Too many obstacles. Would have been easier before the DircTV Ka birds, but now there is billions in added cost as they have made many different technological decisions.
To me, that is not the problem. The problem is technology.
So, would they switch to a single dish solution, like the DirecTV 99/101/103/110/119 dish? Not sure another Dish would reach from 99 to 129 without getting huge, so that slot might be gone. And what would be the fate of 61.5? In any case, think about all the dish repoints to make the extra bandwidth usable. Even DirecTV has been using a 99/101/103 dish in markets with locals not on 119. I mean, we are probably taking 20 million new dishes or more, even of they leave it so one of Dish or DirecTV's SD customers keep their Dish. And they would have to switch to either N3 or NDS encryption. Too many obstacles. Would have been easier before the DircTV Ka birds, but now there is billions in added cost as they have made many different technological decisions.
I couldn't imagine the state of Satellite Guys if this happened. What would Dish and Directv trolls have left? They can't troll Sirius vs. XM, or Blu-ray vs. HD DVD anymore. They would be stuck trolling in the FTA forum, and those guys are all business, they would hammer the trolls away. So I'm for a merger to just get rid of the trolling.
I am with DirecTV, but I have been a Dish customer in the past. If it gives everyone full time RSNs, Epix, PAC 12 and Sunday Ticket then I would be just fine with it. I'm sure they have some nice little graphs showing how any cost increase caused by the merger would be offset by the increased negotiating power with the content providers. Surely we all believe them at their word. 
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The one thing left out of this news item is that Charlie said that this merger wouldn't have a chance under an Obama administration. So if the president gets re-elected, you can kiss the entire idea of a dish -directv merger goodbye. Personally I do NOT want a merger. I have said years ago that both companies could of done partnerships without doing a merger. For instance form a company that does all the satellite delivered locals and have it run by representatives of both companies. We could have all the satellite locals finished and maybe even the sub channels. But I don't see a merger as a good thing. You get less choice, higher costs and no incentive by the two companies to come up with cutting edge technology that we all benefit from. Without competition ,we wouldn't of had the DISH Hopper /joey system with PTAT or the DIRECTV Genie system with suggestion recording. Competition is always a good thing. And do you remember why the merger idea fell apart in the early 90s ? Charlie wanted to run it all and the other company said NO way. The only way DISH would ever get a merger with DIRECTv ,besides the FCC and the government approval, would be if Charlie could run it all and be the ceo for the entire new company. I don't know how this would play with DIRECTv's owners .
Yes I have been around long...and I know Charlie is very, very, serious about some things (such as broadband distribution) and completely full of it on others. I'm betting this was an off-the-cuff remark that's going nowhere. He tried the merger thing before and it blew up. Charlie remembers that.
Who says the companies have to completely merge together. Maybe them partnering together would just be used as leverage against the networks. They could still run as separate companies and have their own contracts with programs and equipment.
Not when Direct TV has echoed it, and by the way it has been tried so, yes, he is serious.
But to think. Epix and Sunday Ticket on the same service. A small movie channel that only a handful of people, including myself, support. And an overrated and overpriced sports package. In fact for all us Red Zone fans out there. Bye bye $9.00 channel that came with RSNs and Strike Zone, etc. Hello Sunday Ticket.
Point taken, I had forgotten about that little trial balloon from Direct earlier, thanks for reminding me. Perhaps the two are sending out feelers as to what they might try should Romney get in. After the mess of the Sirius/XM merger, I think it should be obvious this is no good for any one who pays either company for service...but probably good for the shareholders.
