Charlie Approaches DIRECTV about a Merger.

[Scott Greczkowski]

Seeking Alpha is reporting (Via Bloomberg) that Charlie Ergen has approached DIRECTV about a merger.

• Dish Network (DISH +6%) CEO Charlie Ergen has approached DirecTV (DTV +6.2%) about a merger, reports Bloomberg.
• Ergen has been vocal in the past on the need for the two companies to merge, while DirecTV CEO Mike White has played it cool on the subject.
• A ramp-up of talk on a DISH-DTV combination could catch the ears of regulators looking at the proposed merger between Comcast (CMCSA +1%) and Time Warner Cable (TWC +0.4%).

Your thoughts please.

 

[foghorn2]

All for it, as long as Dish Equipment and Charlie's way of doing things prevails.

 

[satjay]

I don't know, not sure from a technical standpoint I would hope that I could keep my Dish Hopper equipment. I wonder if discussions move ahead, would it get approved in today's environment? Would programming be accessible such as exclusive packages? Many questions..... Sent from my iPhone using SatelliteGuys

 

[dfergie]

DIRECTV MRV, Dish EHDD implementation and Charlies way ...

 

[wallyhts]

Good timing with the comcast deal trying to get a blessing. XM / Sirius deal happen since they last tried to merge. I think it could happen this time I think they will say the current way of distribution is mature and to keep costs down they need more subs to combat higher programming costs. I think the only people that would be hurt by this is rural folks who only have 2 choices for TV dish or dtv could produce a low cost package to make the deal happen

 

[Darrell S]

As a rural customer, I'm against it. Sat tv is the only choice for me. All I need is for Charlie to buy things and dump all my sports channels and packages. I know most people on this board worship Chuck for this stance and prefer to watch movies. As a customer of both, the only thing I like better about Dish is the equipment and the option to buy instead of getting stuck with contracts. Charlie should just retire and join the World Series of Poker or something.

 

[jerryez]

Probably, Charlie looking to catch FCC attention, so they will block Comcast and TWC merger. Or to let the FCC know that if they approve the Comcast/TWC merger, they would have a conflict disapproving the Dish/Direct merger. Either way, Charlie wins. All just a ploy!

 

[gpollock87]

As a rural customer, I'm against it. Sat tv is the only choice for me. All I need is for Charlie to buy things and dump all my sports channels and packages. I know most people on this board worship Chuck for this stance and prefer to watch movies. As a customer of both, the only thing I like better about Dish is the equipment and the option to buy instead of getting stuck with contracts. Charlie should just retire and join the World Series of Poker or something.

Same here. I do not want a merger.

 

[dangue]

I have mixed feelings about this. Personally, I imagine a merger would likely benefit me (combined technology, combined bandwidth, etc.) without the drawback of not having other options if it causes prices to skyrocket since there's plenty of competition around here.

But, I'm not sure that this will work out so well for rural customers with no other options. But, then again, the sat companies have national pricing so competition in the cities should keep prices down for rural areas with no other options.

If it ever happens, it would probably take a year or three to develop the technology for the home compatible with both transmission systems. Unlike Sirius/XM, the real advantage would come in integrating the services, not just operating them jointly.

Sent from my iPhone using SatelliteGuys

 

[Voyager6]

All those satellite spots in orbit, no need to duplicate local programming on both services, swm technology, E's DVR's, major negotiating power with the networks, this is a great idea. Now, how do you implement it?

 

[bluegras]

do you think this will eventually more bandwidth equals more HD channels and more ondemand stuff.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

I personally see it as a bad thing... but I see it ultimately happening.

Less choices = Higher Prices.

Look what's going on with Netflix and the ISP's...
Look whats going on with Aereo and the Networks...
Look at whats going on between the service providers and the programmers...

From a technology standpoint however I think its a great idea. With the bandwidth they could have every HD channel in full native bitrate without a problem.
I would love to see the Hopper live on, however I would like to see them use DIRECTV SWM technology which I feel is superior to DISH's switching setup.

 

[Darrell S]

do you think this will eventually more bandwidth equals more HD channels and more ondemand stuff.

No. Only the signing of the merger papers will be in HD.

 

[dishfan82]

I say do it as long as he intends to keep the hopper system over the Genie. If the comcast merger goes through then this merger should be approved also. It would be cool to have a super hopper come out that could use some of Genie's features that would be great.


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[Huntr]

I personally see it as a bad thing... but I see it ultimately happening.

Less choices = Higher Prices.

Look what's going on with Netflix and the ISP's...
Look whats going on with Aereo and the Networks...
Look at whats going on between the service providers and the programmers...

Interesting, but I kind of see it differently. Charlie has shown he's not afraid of upsetting content providers and battling with them. I'm not always his biggest fan, but combining the DTV and Dish subs would make a pretty hefty stick to swing at CBS, Fox, ABC, etc.

 

[renegade734]

Charlie, leave things alone ... if I wanted DirecTV, I would have subscribed to DirecTV.

 

[darrengs]

If it is allowed, then they should also be forced to allow anyone out of their contract without an ETF. I am not interested in going back to DirecTV and the poor customer service and hardware I experienced.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

See ultimately what I see is there will only be two companies

DISH/DIRECTV and Comcast

Comcast will own most of the programming out there and make DISH/DIRECTV pay through the nose if they want to carry them. Of course those high costs will be passed on to the DISH/DIRECTV customers who are not in an area served by Comcast.

 

[Hall]

Probably, Charlie looking to catch FCC attention, so they will block Comcast and TWC merger. Or to let the FCC know that if they approve the Comcast/TWC merger, they would have a conflict disapproving the Dish/Direct merger. Either way, Charlie wins. All just a ploy!

You were thinking the exact same thing as I was on this subject !

 

[king3pj]

See ultimately what I see is there will only be two companies

DISH/DIRECTV and Comcast

Comcast will own most of the programming out there and make DISH/DIRECTV pay through the nose if they want to carry them. Of course those high costs will be passed on to the DISH/DIRECTV customers who are not in an area served by Comcast.

I really don't think so Scott. The government won't let that many companies merge down to just two. Even if you think there will only be two because everyone else will go out of business the government still has the power to break up companies that control the entire market. If they ever got to that point the government would make them sell off parts of the business like they did with oil back in the day.