How Should Dish be compensated if Directv/At&T Merge?

[dare2be]

If I recall correctly, when there were talks of a Dish and DirecTv merger, Dish was arguing that the real competition was between DBS and cable, not between DBS providers.

I do believe they said that. (And I agree)

Technically that is correct, and it may have been self-serving lip service, but there are many barriers between DBS and Cable, both real and perceived that prevent real competition. Line of sight issues, such as trees, buildings or north-facing apartments, unavailability of cable in rural and even semi-rural areas, and a large group of customers that would never use one or the other for perceived reliability issues.

 

[Tampa8]

All true of course, but the cable subscribers added together dwarfs Direct At&t. As you say getting customers from Cable to Satellite is not as easy as luring Direct At&t customers but to me that's what makes Cable the real competitor. Getting a portion of their customers is what DBS needs, both companies.

 

[Bodo Fenrirsson]

What Does the AT&T-DIRECTV Deal Mean for DISH Network?
http://www.fool.com/investing/gener...the-att-directv-deal-mean-for-dish-netwo.aspx