That's according to an article by TWICE Magazine.
Carey yesterday was asked at the Lehman Brothers conference if DIRECTV has used its new high-def lineup to attract customers at the retail level. (DIRECTV has expanded its national HD lineup from nine to 95 over the last nine months, which contributed to a sharp rise in subscribers in this year's first quarter.)
The executive quickly dismissed the notion that retailers are responsible for the company's subscriber gains.
“We have successfully executed and established ourselves as the leader of HD," Carey said, according to TWICE. "The actual sales that still come through the consumer electronics channel (are) pretty small, so you do have to measure it in a broader sense...We deliver the product. I think we communicated it well. I think the (DIRECTV) marketing campaigns were and continue to be ones that really set us apart.”
The comments are not likely to sit well with CE retailers who sell DIRECTV systems and are often the first contact with potential high-def subscribers. Additionally, DIRECTV's competitors, including Dish Network and cable TV services, are increasingly expanding their retail partnership programs in an effort to boost their HD subscribers totals.
Carey also told the Lehman conference that DIRECTV will continue to expand its high-def offering, particularly exclusive content. He noted that DIRECTV has inked an exclusive deal with NBC to provide the first showing of next season's 13-episode Friday Night Lights series.
TWICE reports that Carey said that DIRECTV's new HD satellite, which was launched in March, should be operational in August, allowing the satcaster to further expand its HD lineup. He chided other TV providers who say they will offer more HD programming in the future.
“It’s one thing to say we are going to have this stuff — it is another to go out and execute," Carey said, according to TWICE. "I think it is going to take time, not that our competitors aren’t going to continue to get better. I think our challenge inside HD is to continue to improve and to build.”
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