DirecTV and EchoStar face slower growth in 2007

Iria · Feb 7, 2007, 12:55 AM

Source: Reuters
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NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. satellite TV operators DirecTV Group Inc. and EchoStar Communications Corp. are expected to report steady subscriber growth in the fourth quarter, but face a slowdown this year due to increased competition from cable, analysts said.

Analysts at Goldman Sachs forecast DirecTV will have added a net 210,000 subscribers in the last three months of 2006, with customer cancellations, known as churn, at 1.6 percent.

For the smaller EchoStar, Goldman forecasts 260,000 additions and churn of 1.6 percent.

~~DudeBoyz~~ · Feb 7, 2007, 03:06 AM

It would be a lot better if they didn't hack up the HD broadcasts.

Instead of providing the standard 1920x1080, they have been clipping it down to 1280x1080 with even more compression. I know if I was paying for full-on HD and getting chopped down HD Lite, I'd be not so pleased...

Feb 7, 2007, 12:55 AM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 89	DirecTV and EchoStar face slower growth in 2007 Source: Reuters ________ NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. satellite TV operators DirecTV Group Inc. and EchoStar Communications Corp. are expected to report steady subscriber growth in the fourth quarter, but face a slowdown this year due to increased competition from cable, analysts said. Analysts at Goldman Sachs forecast DirecTV will have added a net 210,000 subscribers in the last three months of 2006, with customer cancellations, known as churn, at 1.6 percent. For the smaller EchoStar, Goldman forecasts 260,000 additions and churn of 1.6 percent.

Feb 7, 2007, 03:06 AM	#2
~~DudeBoyz~~ banned Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,677 Rep Power: 0	It would be a lot better if they didn't hack up the HD broadcasts. Instead of providing the standard 1920x1080, they have been clipping it down to 1280x1080 with even more compression. I know if I was paying for full-on HD and getting chopped down HD Lite, I'd be not so pleased...