Dish Network Subscriber Growth Skids 89%

[Scott Greczkowski]

Dish Network Subscriber Growth Skids 89% In First Quarter

By Linda Moss -- Multichannel News,

Citing competition from the telcos and the worsening economy, Dish Network reported Monday that its first-quarter subscriber growth nosedived nearly 89% from a year ago, with only a 35,000 net subscriber gain. The precipitous decline in new subscribers comes less than a week after archrival DirecTV reported last week that it had added 275,000 new subscribers in its most recent quarter, a 17% increase.

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[Thwockage]

hmmh, have to assume this is paying the price for being so slow to add SciFi HD (and other new HD content)...hopefully, with today's additions, things will turn around for Dish...

 

[dangue]

That explains the HD adds today. They needed to have something to point to to offset the news.

 

[navychop]

hmmh, have to assume this is paying the price for being so slow to add SciFi HD (and other new HD content)...hopefully, with today's additions, things will turn around for Dish...

Yep. And a lot of switchers remorse.

 

[wayne231]

If they don't add locals at the same pace, it's going to continue. People have seen the promise land with HD and they don't want to go back.

 

[mikew]

Telco competition? Is somebody missing the giant elephant in the room?

 

[hockeynut5150]

wow.. maybe they should've added more HD channels today

 

[goaliebob99]

I think that D* has alot to do with this. There is no way that market conditions and telco comptition caused this. It was nothing but a smoke screen. The real reason is Directv just plain whoooped our asses when it came to adding new hd because dish wasnt serious and should have been serious 6 months ago. That is why we saw all of these channels launch today. Its damage repair. If it was Teleco compitition and market conditions then we would be seeing it accross the board. But instead we see that directv subs increase and dish subs decrease. Notice the trend the last two quarters.

This leads me to say: CHARLIE YOUR DOING SOMETHING WRONG!

Hopefully today was a sign that they have fixed things. Allthough actions speak louder than words.

 

[wayne231]

I think that D* has alot to do with this. There is no way that market conditions and telco comptition caused this. It was nothing but a smoke screen. The real reason is Directv just plain whoooped our asses when it came to adding new hd because dish wasnt serious and should have been serious 6 months ago. That is why we saw all of these channels launch today. Its damage repair. If it was Teleco compitition and market conditions then we would be seeing it accross the board. But instead we see that directv subs increase and dish subs decrease. Notice the trend the last two quarters.

This leads me to say: CHARLIE YOUR DOING SOMETHING WRONG!

Hopefully today was a sign that they have fixed things. Allthough actions speack louder than words.

+2

 

[jansan]

At least it was a gain! TWC had more HD than Dish (until today)

 

[azdevil]

If I was an investor, I'd get real tired of this Bullsh!t they try to jam down in all their press releases. worsening economy? guess D* must be in some alternate reality economy.

 

[vampz26]

well...at least they did something to stop the bleeding...

 

[Paradox-SJ]

well...at least they did something to stop the bleeding...

Stop or slow down?

 

[jansan]

I do not think investors will buy it. Most (telcos and D*)had a great quarter. Dish just plainly screwed up. No promotions, no incentives, no growth. Just how many potential HD customers invested in a D* system compared to E*. That is the real question for the long-term. This quarter is already nearly half over. What will the August report bring before D* starts using D11? E* needs to help their fellow retailer. Of the 35,000 new customers, how many were international or Mexico service. Earnings call should be interesting.

 

[obermi]

Cox Communications (Cable) in Oklahoma has seen a large increase of "E" customers because of the number of HD channels they offer. They are adding 7 HD channels next week. Still no local HD channels in Tulsa from "E". Cox Communications does has local HD!

 

[mikew]

Winners make commitments, losers make excuses. - John Schuerholz, Atlanta Braves President

Truer words could not be found that describe this entire situation...

 

[rockymtnhigh]

At least it was a gain! TWC had more HD than Dish (until today)

Are you just discounting Voom or something? By my count, I had close to 50 HD channels before the latest adds. Not aware of any cable companys that come close.

Anyways, I think Dish is paying the price for the rumored sale back last fall, and how it kind of pulled the legs right out from under everyone at Echostar/Dish. I am hopeful that today's add of another 20 national HD channels, and the close to 100 LiLs in the past six weeks will push them in the right direction.

 

[wayne231]

100 LIL in the last 6 weeks? I must have missed that.

 

[d777jj]

Now that Dish has shown that it has the capability, the stockholders will expect it to continue, I expect an additional statement tomorrow by Dish.
This is hitting Charlie's pocket book so I'm sure he can figure out a way to improve the stock value.

 

[db2]

Dish's decline in growth is no one other than Dish's fault.