Items tagged with Dish Network
Satellite TV provider Dish Network is reportedly in talks with T-Mobile, the fourth largest wireless carrier in the U.S., about merging. While nothing is yet imminent, the two sides have already agreed on a power structure that would have Dish chief Charlie Ergen becoming chairman and T-Mobile boss John Legere taking the reins as CEO.The bigger challenge is figuring out how much to value the deal and then breaking down the purchase price in a mix of cash and stock. T-Mobile's market capitalization sits at around $31 billion, while Dish Network, the second largest satellite TV provider in the U.S., is worth about $33 billion. It's not clear which company would be buying the other.Both T-Mobile...
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Following its official public launch in early February, Dish Network’s Sling TV streaming service is off to fast start. Sling TV, which costs $20 per month, captured 100,000 subscribers during its first month of availability and the momentum doesn’t appear to be slowing down. Fresh news today from The Wall Street Journal (no, this isn’t an April Fool’s joke) suggests that the adoption of Sling TV may skyrocket again thanks to the inclusion of HBO. According to the WSJ, Time Warner Cable — the parent company of HBO — and Dish Network have come to an agreement which would allow Sling TV subscribers to enjoy such content as Game of Thrones, True Detective, Girls, and Veep (as well as back catalogs...
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Cable companies should take note; the cord-cutting revolution has begun in earnest. Somewhat ironically, it's a satellite TV provider that's disrupting the landscape. Specifically, Dish Network and its potentially game-changing Sling TV web television service, which has reportedly amassed over 100,000 subscribers since launching a month ago. Sling TV's base package is $20 per month and includes ESPN, ESPN2, AMC, Foot Network, HGTV, Disney Channel, TNT, El Rey Network, Travel Channel, TBS, Maker, Adult Swim, CNN, IFC, Cartoon Network, ABC Family, and Golovision. Four optional add-on packages for sports, movies, kid friendly content, and news are available at $5 a pop,...
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Cord cutters rejoice! AMC is now available on Dish Network’s $20 per month Sling TV service. That means that you’ll be able to catch new episodes of hit shows like Better Call Saul and The Walking Dead; not to mention the second half of the final season of Mad Men starting in April and numerous Breaking Bad marathons. In addition to AMC, IFC also comes to Sling TV’s $20 “Core” package starting today. This adds some robustness to a channel lineup that already includes ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, TBS, ABC Family, CNN, and Food Network. Hollywood Extra, a new $5 add-on package, has also been announced that includes Sundance TV, EPIX, EPIX 2, EPIX3, and EPIX Drive In. This joins other add-on packages that...
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With the rise of online services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and host of others, consumers looking to “cut the cord” have plenty of options to select. However, ditching entrenched series like cable and satellite often means giving up such “luxuries” as network television broadcasts (ABC, NBC, CBS, etc.) and live sports channels like ESPN. Plugging rabbit ears into your HDTV can mostly solve the former, but the latter is a bit more troublesome. Dish Network is hoping to come to the rescue with its new Sling TV service that was announced last month and was available via an invite-only system until late last night. Today, Sling TV is open to all cord cutters and it offers a respectable selection...
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In what's been described as "by far the highest-earning spectrum auction the United States has ever seen" by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler, AT&T led the way by spending a whopping $18.2 billion on wireless licenses. Combined with its acquisition of DirecTV last year, some are wondering if AT&T is being a bit careless. AT&T spent nearly $49 billion last year buying DirecTV, the largest satellite TV provider in the U.S. with 20 million customers. Along with a pair of smaller acquisitions and the wireless spectrum licenses it just bought, AT&T will see $70 billion go out the door in a year's time. "This spectrum investment will be critical to AT&T...
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Dish Network subscribers have lost access to the Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network due to a dispute in negotiations between the satellite TV provider and media conglomerate. At issue is the expired contract between the two sides and their inability to come to terms on a renewed deal, so as usual when these things drag out, the customers are caught in the middle of what ends up being a contentious battle with lots of finger pointing. Eventually the two sides will likely kiss and make up, as they almost do when contract negotiations like this reach a standstill. But in the meantime, each one is blaming the other in what amounts to a public relations war, as if customers actually care about...
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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is currently deciding whether or not to approve Comcast's $45.2 billion proposed takeover of Time Warner Cable, a deal that would combine the two largest cable providers in the U.S. and give net Comcast an additional 30 million subscribers. Meanwhile, Dish Network is screaming in the FCC's ear to block the deal over concerns that it would present "serious competitive concerns." One of Dish Network's biggest concerns is the control of so-called choke points in the broadband pipeline that Comcast could use to harm competing video services. The choke points include the direct connection to consumers, the interconnection point, and managed or specialized...
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In case you were wondering -- and it would only be natural, given AT&T's recent move -- Verizon Wireless is not the least bit interested in acquiring satellite provider Dish Network. So says Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam, who is well aware of the rumors floating around suggesting Big Red and Dish Network might become a couple. "I know there are reports out there that we are talking to Dish. I can tell you now, that is someone's fantasy. There were not, and there are not, discussions going on with Dish," McAdam said during the Media and Telecom Conference, according to Reuters. Image Source: Flickr (Dave L) Speaking bluntly, McAdam added that acquiring a satellite provider isn't something he's...
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Many years ago, I helped run a local mom-and-pop video rental store. Business was okay, but not great. By the time I came onto the scene, chains like Blockbuster and Hollywood Video had started putting the squeeze on independently owned stores by inking revenue sharing deals with movie studios. While we analyzed metrics to see how many copies of a new release we could afford to buy and still turn a profit in our modest space, these big chains would receive shelves full of new flicks and share revenue with the studios. It was tough to compete with that (we weren't afforded the same or even similar deals), and like every other mom-and-pop video store, we eventually closed up shop. I find it a little...
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It was rumored that Dish Network is interested in merging with T-Mobile, but only if a deal with Sprint can't be consummated. Sprint is the first choice, and towards that end, the satellite TV provider is offering the wireless carrier $25.5 billion in a buyout offer. The deal would include $17.3 billion in cash and $8.2 billion in stock, which would pay Sprint shareholders $7 per share, if it's accepted. "Our proposal provides a highly-compelling and unique opportunity for Sprint shareholders. We are offering an ownership interest in a combined company with a comprehensive product and services suite, a significantly enhanced subscriber base, considerable financial and operating scale, as well...
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In an increasingly competitive wireless landscape, Sprint is reportedly trying to sweet talk satellite provider Dish Network into working together on providing mobile phone service over the carrier's network. The discussion has been going on for several months, though it's unclear if the two sides are close to an agreement or not. According to Bloomberg, Sprint wants access to Dish's mobile airwaves, which aren't even being used at the moment. The two companies would then share revenue from customers who sign up for Dish's wireless service. Alternately, Dish could pay Sprint a fee to use the network. Image Source: Flickr (Dave Lindblom) This is a possible win-win situation. The benefit for Dish...
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Perhaps Dish Network should just pull the plug on Blockbuster completely, but instead it looks like the once popular DVD rental store is destined to die a slow death. The satellite service provider indicated it would be closing more Blockbuster locations in the coming months than originally planned, and those that remain will turn into quasi-Dish Network customer service locations. News of additional closures comes from Dish Network Chief Executive Joe Clayton, who spoke with Reuters at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week. Clayton said that any location not making a profit will be boarded up. Source: Flickr (lucias_clay) "We are committed to keeping the profitable stores open...
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TV-to-iPad streaming isn't as far-fetched as it once was. Many pay-TV providers have hopped on this bandwagon in a bid to keep customers from cutting the cord, and now even DISH Network is following suit. The company announced today it has enhanced its DISH Remote Access app for the iPad to allow DISH customers to watch thousands of on-demand streaming movies and TV shows. DISH customers who subscribe to the Blockbuster @Home package or select premium movie packages, including HBO and Cinemax, can now watch popular movies, TV shows and kid's programming using the updated DISH Remote Access app on their iPad. Streaming movies and TV shows using the enhanced DISH Remote Access app requires a DISH...
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In April, Dish Network acquired Blockbuster. Since then, there has been plenty of speculation as to what Dish would do with Blockbuster and its assets. We already know Dish will keep 600 Blockbuster stores open, and now we're learning of other possible plans. Word has it that Dish Network is planning to roll out a streaming service using the Blockbuster brand that will compete with Netflix. To offer this service, Dish plans to use an existing infrastructure that currently delivers on-demand movies to its customers. The new service could offer classic and archive movies as well as newer, on-demand titles that are currently available to Dish Network subscribers. The new service is also expected...
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The 4G party is raging, and everybody wants to come, invited or not. Satellite TV provider Dish Network is the latest player to crash the party by asking for an FCC permit to build its own LTE network. The company is sitting on some spectrum licensing after its acquisition of bankrupt satellite phone service provider TerreStar Networks earlier this summer and wants to be able to use it in its quest to create a 4G LTE network. A mobile broadband network would of course allow Dish to offer all manner of services, including high-speed Internet to mobile devices, VoIP, streaming video, and more. Specifically, the proposed network could do a lot for the company’s online video portal, www.dishonline.com....
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Dish Network's eleventh hour Blockbuster purchase saved a number of stores from imminent closure, but the company still intends to close additional properties. Blockbuster has spun this into a victory; the company's blog claims to have "saved" stores as opposed to liquidating them. "We’re pleased that we will continue to operate more than 90 percent of the stores that were offered at auction in April,” said Michael Kelly, president of Blockbuster. “By lowering pricing and offering competitive summer promotions, we’ve brought millions of customers back into Blockbuster stores in the last three months to experience the best in convenience, choice and value. Today, more than...
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TerreStar Networks started with a big dream. A dream to provide sat-phone communications to all who wanted it. Turns out, not too many people want it, or at leas they don't want to pay for it. Now, the company has selected Dish Network as the opening bidder in an upcoming bankruptcy-court auction. Why? Because Dish offered a whopping $1.375 billion for their mobile communications business. It's a super serious offer. According to the Wall Street Journal, Dish will be hit with a staggering $27.5 million "breakup fee" if TerreStar chooses to sell to someone else at this point, and any other suitor must top the offer by at least $55.5m in order to "outbid" Dish Network. If Dish wins, that sum will...
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Would you invest any time or money into Blockbuster at this point? It would take a really bold (or really rich...or really bored) person to say "yes," but Dish Network must fit that criteria. The company has just decided to broaden their scope when it comes to Blockbuster, and that apparently means taking over around 500 Blockbuster leases. Dish will soon by BB's parent, and they're agreeing now to take over 500 physical stores as they consider ways to turn things around in a world obsessed with digital downloads. The report was spotted in Dish's recently filed papers with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court Southern District of New York, coming around a month after Dish won an auction for BB valued at...
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After some six weeks on the auction block, beleagured Blockbuster has found a buyer. The Dish Network has agreed to purchase its erstwhile competitor. The company won the auction with a bid of some $320 million and expects to pay ~$228 million once other transaction adjustments are completed. The purchase process will reportedly be finished by the end of the current quarter. "With its more than 1,700 store locations, a highly recognizable brand and multiple methods of delivery, Blockbuster will complement our existing video offerings while presenting cross-marketing and service extension opportunities for DISH Network," said Tom Cullen, executive vice president of Sales, Marketing and Programming...
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The DirecTV and DISH Network battle is becoming more heated by the month. Not only are the two competing hard on price and content, but now DISH has another reason to choose their services. Well, if you own an iPad. The pay-TV provider has announced today that DISH Remote Access, the free application that gives DISH Network customers the ability to watch their live and recorded TV on compatible smartphones, tablets and laptops, is now available for the iPad. That means that you'll be able to watch live DISH TV content on the iPad, for free. To enjoy live and recorded TV viewing on the iPad, DISH Network customers must have a broadband-connected, Sling-enabled device such as the Sling Adapter...
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As the saying goes, you either run with the big dogs or stay on the porch. Dish Network has chosen the former, joining a growing number of content providers to jump on the online video bandwagon with a new video portal, DishOnline.com. This is Dish Network's take on "TV Everywhere," which will let users watch full episodes of movies online, get exclusive behind the scenes extras, excerpts, and previews, and program their DVR boxes from anywhere they're able to hop online. "People are shifting where they watch video, and I want to shift with them," said Dave Shull, Dish's senior vice president for programming, said in an interview. Currently in beta form, DishOnline.com is teasing viewers with...
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