Monday Should Be Interesting
It’s been a really dull week in the world of satellite news, but it appears that business will pick up on Monday. On Monday Dish Network and Echostar will be announcing their earnings for last quarter of 2009.
I got to be honest; I am not expecting their numbers to be as good as DirecTV’s for the same quarter. On that earnings statement DirecTV announced their largest growth in over 3 years and a 11% increase in revenue. It would not surprise me at all if Dish Networks numbers showed their 3rd consecutive loss of subscribers.
I am looking forward to hearing the earnings call with Dish Network CEO Charlie Ergen, as if the numbers are as I predict it will be interesting to see what Charlie says was the reason for the poor report. In the past Charlie blamed piracy and the economy on poor earnings reports. But to me that don’t hold water when its rival keeps on growing.
Online from many of Dish Networks power users the feeling twards the company seems to be souring, as customers are upset about this months rate increase and the constant dropping of channels from their lineup.
This week any hopes of the Smithsonian Channel HD coming back to Dish Network have been shattered as Dish Network removed the channel from the guide listings on Wednesday.
From where I sit, Dish Network seems to be more interested about signing up new customers then by taking care of their existing ones. Customers keep hearing that Dish keeps dropping and preempting channels to keep their bills low, yet their rates still go up every year. And their bills are about the same if not higher then if they had DirecTV. I think many long time customers are getting tired of being pawns for Charlie in contract negotiations.
Don’t get me wrong Dish Network has the best hardware in the business. Now if they could only give their customers the programming they want people would be happy. Dish is missing channel that people have been demanding for years, such channels as Noggin 24/7, Logo, Speed Network HD, Yes Network, 24 hour HD RSN’s among others.
All this equipment is great, but it does no good if people can’t get the channels they want on it.
We will analyze the earnings report here on Monday afternoon, have a great weekend everyone!
Tyralak commented:
Stealing technology? Oh, you mean like tivo did to ReplayTV when they made their DVR?
Jason commented:
Nobody has mentioned the loss of Dish Network on the AT&T bundle packaging. Does this say anything? Effective March 1st, I believe, AT&T has officially dropped Dish Network and has chosen to go with Direct Tv as their bundle package provider. I would definately choose AT&T Uverse over any sattelite, but if you can't get Uverse, then Direct TV is definately the way to go. Direct TV has the best HD picture, hands down!
AJ commented:
I have been hanging in with crossed fingers and hoping for the best with Dish because we like their PVR, I want YES and Noggin 24. If nothing changes within the next few months we will be a Direct TV house
ysfbuy commented:
I will move to apartment this Sunday, there I have choices among Brighthouse cable, DirecTV, AT&T Uverse and my current subscription to Dish, I will pay the $130 and get out of my contract, yes, the bill will go up, but I just hate Dish so much that I can\’t wait to switch!
Gabriel commented:
Scott,
You hit the nail on the head!!!
Dish keeps taking away. Ive down graded from a top tier to a low tier customer. Since Vooms takedown I have lost all excitement I have had towards dish.
There days in my my home are numbered.
Mainer commented:
And the only reason they have good hardware is because they infringe patents to bring you good equipment at a low cost. Let someone else invent, and then just copy. That is the Charlie way.
Tom commented:
You also forgot no MLB Network, no NFL Sunday Ticket, no NCAA March Madness, no NASCAR Hot Pass. I point and laugh whenver I see a Dish Network satellite dish.
DirecTV customer for life!
DishDunce commented:
I wonder if Charlie even pays attention to the insights you and others offer. Where I sit, I'm watching my neighbors one by one leave Dish for DirectTV or cable. I don't know a single person who has started service with Dish in the past year. I'm near Seattle, and the loss of KOMO ABC, including the Oscar blackout was the last straw for many.
