Phillip Swann, president of TVPredictions.com, has been making predictions about TV technology issues for several years with an incredible rate of success.
For instance, Swanni was the first to say Voom's satellite TV service would fail; that Apple TV would be a bust; and that Interactive TV programs would never reach a mass audience in the United States.
"I'm not always right, but I will put my record up against anyone," Swanni says.
And now, Swanni is kicking off his forecasts for High-Definition TV in the coming year.
The video commentary below includes Swanni's second prediction -- what will happen in the Blu-ray/HD DVD high-def disc format war?
Will Blu-ray win? HD DVD? Neither?
To see Swanni's Prediction #2 for 2008, click below:
http://www.tvpredictions.com/swannitwo120507.htm
[ 22 comments ]
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Michael Bay: Microsoft Wants Blu-ray & HD DVD to Fail
The Transformers director says it's a big conspiracy.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (December 5, 2007) -- Transformers director Michael Bay says Microsoft wants both Blu-ray and HD DVD high-def disc formats to fail.
Microsoft is actively supporting HD DVD over Blu-ray, but Bay says that's just a front.
"What you don't understand is corporate politics," the director wrote yesterday at his personal web site. "Microsoft wants both formats to fail so they can be heroes and make the world move to digital downloads."
Bay charges the software titan with propping up HD DVD so both formats will cancel each other out. For instance, he accuses Microsoft of paying $100 million to Paramount to get the studio to endorse HD DVD exclusively.
"That is the dirty secret no one is talking about," he wrote. "That is why Microsoft is handing out $100 million dollar checks to studios to just embrace the HD DVD and not the leading, and superior Blu Ray. They want confusion in the market until they perfect the digital downloads. Time will tell and you will see the truth."
For several months, rumors have persisted that Microsoft's has an ulterior motive in supporting HD DVD, namely to boost digital downloads. The company is now offering high-def downloads via its XBox 360 video game system.
Bay says that if the disc format war leads to a stalemate, fewer people will buy high-def DVD players and more will download high-def content from companies like Microsoft.
However, Microsoft has consistently denied the charge, saying it believes that HD DVD is the better format because of its interactive capability and other features.
Of course, Bay has been a loose cannon on the Blu-ray/HD DVD war. Earlier this year, he blasted Paramount for supporting HD DVD exclusively, saying Transformers should be available in both formats. The next day, he retracted his statement, saying that HD DVD "rocks."
However, shortly after that, he again criticized Paramount's decision, saying that Blu-ray is the better format.
[ 24 comments ]
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Analysts: Blu-ray & HD DVD Will Both Survive
Research companies dispute the single format theory.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (December 5, 2007) -- Despite calls for a single format, two research companies yesterday said both Blu-ray and HD DVD high-def discs will be around for years to come.
That's according to an article by Video Business.
At an industry conference in Los Angeles, Screen Media Digest and Adams Media Research also said that both formats will sell roughly the same number of discs over the next several years.
Blu-ray, which is backed exclusively by four major Hollywood studios, has outsold HD DVD by a 2-1 margin to date. (HD DVD has the exclusive backing of two major studios.)
"Both formats will be established and co-exist for the foreseeable future,” said Screen Digest's Helen Davis Jayalath, according to Video Business. “By 2012, U.S. high-def software will be evenly split between the two formats, where Blu-ray represents 55 percent of the market and HD DVD represents 45 percent."
Adams Media Research said Blu-ray and HD DVD disc revenues will both be around $5 billion by 2012, compared to $10 billion for standard DVDs.
The companies said that the standard-def DVD is the biggest obstacle facing the high-def disc industry. Turned off the format war, many consumers may instead buy 'upconverting' DVD players that will improve the image on standard-def DVDs.
The research companies said the format war will diminish the potential of revenue from high-def disc sales, Video Business reported.
“Sales of both formats have been below analyst expectations,” said Jayalath. “You would think that (large demand) for high-def TVs would help adoption more.”
[ 22 comments ]
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DIRECTV to Add MSG HD, FSN NY HD
The new channels are expected to be launched tomorrow.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (December 4, 2007) -- DIRECTV on Wednesday will add MSG HD and FSN NY HD to its High-Definition regional sports lineup, according to well-placed industry sources.
The channels, which carry pro sports from the New York area, have been in high demand from New York-based viewers since DIRECTV kicked off its HD expansion last September.
The satcaster says it now has more than 85 national HD channels, an increase from nine in September.
MSG HD, which is owned by Cablevision, has broadcast rights to the New York Knicks and New York Rangers.
The network also airs news and information programs such as The Boomer Esiason Show, starring the former NFL quarterback.
The high-def edition of MSG is a simulcast of the standard-def channel.
FSN New York HD, also owned by Cablevision, has the broadcast rights to the New York Islanders and the New Jersey Devils and will occasionally air games from MSG when that network has scheduling conflicts. The channel is also a simulcast of the standard-def network.
Most professional sports events broadcast by the two channels can only be seen in local areas.
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Group: 2.7 Million Blu-ray Players Sold
The high-def format's backers counter claims by their rival.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (December 4, 2007) -- The Blu-ray Disc Association says 2.7 million Blu-ray players were sold through November 24.
That's according to an article in Video Business.
The Blu-ray group, which represents studios and hardware makers, is counting sales of both standalone Blu-ray players and the Sony Play Station 3, which has a Blu-ray player inside.
While the group did not break out the sales figures, the PS3 is estimated to represent the vast majority of overall Blu-ray player sales. Video Business reports there had been two million PlayStation 3 units sold through October.
The Blu-ray backers appear to be counting a recent claim by HD DVD's promotional group that 750,000 HD DVD players have been sold. The HD DVD group counted sales of both standalone players and the HD DVD player which can be attached to Microsoft's XBox 360.
Unlike Blu-ray, standalone HD DVD players represent the majority of overall HD DVD player sales. Retailers recently cut the price of the entry-level HD DVD player to under $200 -- roughly $200 less than what a Blu-ray player goes for.
Blu-ray, backed by Sony, and HD DVD, headed by Toshiba, are rival formats competing for the new high-def disc audience.
Blu-ray disc sales have also led HD DVD by a 2-1 margin during the year. The Blu-ray promotional group said four million Blu-ray discs were sold through November, compared to 2.5 million for HD DVD.
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Satellite Exec: 63 New HD Channels in 2008
More programmers are looking to launch high-def broadcasts.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (December 2, 2007) -- Bryan McGuirk, president of satellite distributor SES Americom, says there will be 63 new HD channel launches in the next nine months.
McGuirk should know. SES Americom operates the commercial satellites which transmit HD and SD programming to Earth.
The satellite executive tells Multichannel News that SES now delivers 64 different high-def feeds. But McGuirk says his company knows of at least 63 more channels planned in the coming months.
He did not reveal the names of the new channels.
However, he said DIRECTV's recent high-def expansion has accelerated programmers' interest in launching high-def versions of their channels.
The satcaster recently increased its national HD lineup from nine to more than 80 channels. Additionally, McGuirk noted the rise in high-def set sales over the last year.
“We’re going through another wave of adoption with the DIRECTV launches and all the new HDs,” McGuirk said.
Becky Powhatan, The Weather Channel’s executive vice president of distribution, echoed McGuirk's comments. TWC recently launched a high-def channel, although studio segments are not scheduled for HD until early next year..
“We thought we’d launch an upconverted HD simulcast in 2009 and do native HD in 2010,” she told Multichannel News. “But we changed plans. I think the pace of HDTV sales surprised everyone.”
The list of new HD channels cited by McGuirk will undoubtedly include high-def simulcasts of existing basic cable networks. Several prominent cable networks, such as E!, have yet to launch HD feeds. But it also could include dedicated HD channels from new start-up companies.
[ 8 comments ]
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High-Def DVD Player Sales Rising?
Toshiba's new low price is getting consumers' attention.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (December 2, 2007) -- High-def DVD player sales are rising, but retailers say consumers are most likely to get excited about HD DVD's lower price.
That's according to an article by Video Business, which reports that both Blu-ray and HD DVD players have sold well early in the holiday season.
But the decision by Wal-Mart and Best Buy to sell Toshiba's HD-A2 for $99 during a pre-Black Friday sale triggered new consumer interest in the category.
“If nothing else, Wal-Mart making the Toshiba player $99 got a lot of airplay, and people are asking what is HD DVD?,” Bjorn's COO, Doug Bravin, told Video Business. “They started to make it mainstream.”
After the special $99 sale, many retailers set the price of the entry-level Toshiba player under $200, which is roughly $200 off the lowest price Blu-ray player.
Still, Bravin said Bjorn's did equal business with Blu-ray and HD DVD players. But Rick Souder, Crutchfield's executive VP of merchandise, said Toshiba's lower price made the difference. (Crutchfield set the price at $129).
“The Wal-Mart thing and other indicators show that people aren’t hung up on the format as much as they are about price,” said Souder. “We sold out of every (Toshiba HD-A2) that we had at $129. People are willing to make that level of investment, but they didn’t seem willing to spend $399 and $499.”
The HD DVD North American Promotional Group said last week that 750,000 HD DVD players (including XBox 360 adapters) have been sold to date. But that includes a big boost in the early days of the holiday season.
Bjorn's, says Video Business, reports that high-def DVD player represented 15 percent of its DVD business last year. But this year that number jumped to 50 percent.
"People are becoming aware of next-generation and high-def content as it relates to HD DVD and Blu-ray,” Matt Duda, director of merchandising at Ultimate Electronics, told Video Business. “You can credit Wal-Mart for raising that awareness certainly. And more people are seeing advertising on TV for HD DVD and Blu-ray. New releases now say they are also available in HD DVD and Blu-ray, and that gets people asking questions about them.”
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Commentary
FCC's Cable Cap On Subscribers: Bad For HDTV
FCC Chief Kevin Martin wants to restrict the number of subscribers held by a cable operator.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (November 30, 2007) -- Continuing his anti-cable crusade, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin is now proposing to limit how many customers any one cable operator can have.
According to news reports, Martin is circulating a plan that would restrict a cable operator's national market share to 30 percent.
Comcast, the nation's largest cable operator, now has a 27 percent market share with more than 26 million subscribers nationwide.
In recent months, Martin has also tried to force cable operators to adopt 'a la carte' programming plans, digital must-carry requirements and a host of other regulatory handcuffs.
His latest effort to impose more rules on cable TV was shot down this week when he couldn't muster support among his fellow commissioners. (For reasons never quite explained, Martin has not tried to impose similar restrictions on satellite TV operators, telcos or local TV stations. Cable seems to be in the FCC chief's crosshairs.)
But despite the defeat, Martin is now continuing his crusade with the market cap proposal.
The FCC chief notes that Congress passed a 1992 law that called for a national cap on a cable operator's subscriber total. The FCC later set that cap at 30 percent, but a federal appeals court rejected it in 2001.
Now Martin wants to reinstate it.
However, he seems to ignore that the 1992 law was passed before DIRECTV and EchoStar launched (mid-1990s) and before Verizon and AT&T started offering TV service (two years ago). Times have changed; the marketplace now serves to limit a cable operator's market share.
I suspect Martin knows this full well, but why give up a chance to take a shot at his favorite bull's eye.
Restricting a cable operator's subscriber total would stifle its incentive to expand services. For instance, why would Comcast invest more money in High-Definition TV programming if it knew that it would only be allowed to add a limited number of new customers.
Sure, Comcast wants to make current customers happier, but a company's desire to grow is what drives innovation and investment.
Oddly, Martin seems to understand this when pushing a proposal to ease ownership rules on newspapers and broadcast companies. He wants to allow companies such as News Corp. to own more local TV stations, which would give it more customers.
But cable? No, to Martin, it's bad for cable companies to have more customers.
Fortunately, most of Washington (and elsewhere) is on to Martin and his obsession to punish the cable industry. Consequently, I suspect this latest proposal will be defeated, along with his other anti-cable measures.
[ 13 comments ]
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Blu-ray Wallops HD DVD In Disc Sales
The Sony-backed format crushes its rival despite low-cost HD DVD players.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (November 29, 2007) -- Despite the introduction of low-cost HD DVD players, Blu-ray disc sales walloped rival HD DVD during Thanksgiving week.
That's according to an article by Home Media Magazine.
The publication reports that Blu-ray sales accounted for 72.6 percent of all high-def discs sold during Thanksgiving week, compared to 27.4 for HD DVD. (The figures are based on data from Nielsen VideoScan.)
Blu-ray, which is led by Sony, has enjoyed a 2-1 sales advantage over HD DVD for months. However, retailers recently began selling Toshiba HD DVD players for under $200 -- roughly $200 less than the lowest-priced Blu-ray player.
On Black Friday (Nov. 23), some stores were even selling the Toshiba HD-A2 for just $98.
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Comcast to Charge Extra $2.95 For TiVo HD DVR
The recording service is now being tested in New England.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (November 28, 2007) -- TiVo said today that Comcast will charge subscribers an extra $2.95 a month to use its HD DVR service.
The cable operator now requires subscribers to pay around $15-17 a month for high-def DVR service (including the set-top), meaning they may have to pay $20 a month if they add TiVo.
Comcast is now testing TiVo's DVR service in the New England area and is expected to expand the service there shortly. If all goes all, the cable operator will then roll out the service nationally in select cities.
Comcast agreed two years ago to license TiVo's DVR software and offer it to its subscribers. The agreement was TiVo's first licensing deal with a major cable operator, but software glitches have slowed the roll out.
In releasing the company's third quarter statement today, TiVo CEO Tom Rogers said the company plans to "aggressively market" the Comcast service.
“We are very excited by the emphasis that Comcast has placed on this product within its organization and their plans to aggressively market it at a $2.95 up-charge as well as through packaged bundles and win-back offers,” Rogers said. “Further, we are pleased with Comcast’s plans to promote and market the value of the TiVo experience, which will leverage many of their marketing assets including cross-channel TV.”
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Wal-Mart has started selling Venturer Electronics' new HD DVD player for $199.98 online and at selected stores.
For months, the HDTV industry has buzzed about a low-cost HD DVD player from China that could give HD DVD a major advantage against Blu-ray in the high-def disc format war.
HD DVD boosters predicted that the player would be available at Wal-Mart, which would drive interest among the masses.
Venturer is based in Ontario, Canada, but has a manufacturing partner in China.
Ironically, though, the launch of the Venturer player is somewhat anti-climatic with entry-level Toshiba players now available at some stores for under $200.
The Venturer SHD7000 features 1080i output with a HDMI connection and an Ethernet port for downloads of special features.
The lowest-priced Blu-ray player is now Sony's BDP-S300 at $499 suggested retail, although Wal-Mart is now selling it for $348.
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Blu-ray Sales Blasting HD DVD In Europe
The format passes the one million mark for disc sales.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (November 27, 2007) -- Blu-ray discs are out selling its rival HD DVD in Europe by more than 2-1.
That's according to an article by Reuters.
The wire service reports that Blu-ray disc sales have passed the one million mark in Europe, representing 73 percent of all high-def discs sold there.
The Blu-ray Disc Association said that if Blu-ray gaming discs were included in the total that the number would jump to more than 21 million sold.
The Sony Play Station 3 has a Blu-ray player inside.
[ 5 comments ]
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HD DVD Player Sales Pass 750,000
Group cites price promotion as reason for increase.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (November 27, 2007) -- More than 750,000 HD DVD high-def disc players have now been sold, according to the North American HD DVD Promotional Group.
The group said the number includes standalone HD DVD players from Toshiba and the XBox 360 HD DVD player attachment.
HD DVD and Blu-ray are rival formats competing for the new high-def disc audience. While HD DVD's 750,000 mark is impressive, it still falls far short of Blu-ray's overall home penetration total.
Standalone HD DVD players are outselling standalone Blu-ray players, but Sony's Play Station 3, which has a Blu-ray player inside, has sold millions of units.
The exact number of standalone Blu-ray players sold to date is unknown.
[ 29 comments ]
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Wall Street Analyst Praises DIRECTV's HD Lineup
The analyst says it's a major reason why he's upgrading the company's stock.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (November 26, 2007) -- Who has the best High-Definition programming lineup: DIRECTV or EchoStar?
Bernstein Research's Craig Moffett apparently believes the answer is clear. The influential Wall Street analyst today upgraded his stock rating on DIRECTV from Underperform to Market Perform -- and the satcaster's recently expanded high-def lineup is a key reason.
“DIRECTV’s strong HDTV offering positions the company for solid growth, and this faster growth is unmistakably value accretive,” Moffett said today in a note to investors.
DIRECTV, the nation's largest satellite TV service, recently expanded its national HD lineup from nine to more than 80 channels.
While some analysts have soured on cable and satellite stocks due largely to increasing competition in the category, Moffett says DIRECTV is well positioned to boost subscribers and increase revenues.
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TiVo to Offer Cable Adapter For HD
The device will allow the DVR to operate with Switched Digital Video systems.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (November 26, 2007) -- TiVo says it will soon offer an external adapter that will allow its HD DVR to operate with a new cable TV technology called Switched Digital Video (SDV).
That's according to an article by TWICE Magazine.
The adapter is considered crucial to TiVo's hopes of generating more subscribers because several cable operators are planning to use SDV in the coming months.
SDV will allow the cable services to offer more High-Definition channels because it saves bandwidth by only delivering a channel to the home when the viewer actually watches it.
[ 3 comments ]
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Sony CEO Is For Blu-ray -- After He's Against It
The company CEO reverses earlier comments suggesting victory may be out of reach.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (November 25, 2007) -- Sony CEO Howard Stringer now says Blu-ray will defeat HD DVD in the high-def disc format war.
That's according to an article by The Hollywood Reporter.
Earlier this month, Stringer said in a speech in New York that the battle between Blu-ray and HD DVD had become a "stalemate."
Saying it's a "difficult fight," Stringer even openly speculated what Sony would do if HD DVD prevailed. (Basically, stop including Blu-ray players in Play Station game consoles.)
The comments ignited a storm of controversy at blogs and Internet message boards with some posters saying that Stringer seemed to be throwing in the towel.
Combined with the dropping price of HD DVD players (now starting under $200 compared to $399 for the lowest Blu-ray player), Stringer's remarks left some Blu-ray supporters feeling demoralized, although Blu-ray disc sales continue to outpace HD DVD.
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VUDU: Bourne 3 In HD For $24.99
New set-top will also include the first two Bourne movies for free.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (November 21, 2007) -- VUDU, which last week said it's adding HDTV movies to its Video on Demand service, has revealed its first high-def title for purchase: The Bourne Ultimatum.
The company said VUDU customers will be able to purchase the action film starring Matt Damon beginning December 11. The price will be $24.99.
In addition, for a limited time starting November 23, new VUDU set-tops will include permanent copies of The Bourne Identity and The Bourne Supremacy, the first two films in the Bourne trilogy.
The company sells a $399 VUDU set-top that enables users to download movies over a high-speed Internet connection.
[ 6 comments ]
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Comcast Moves HD Channels to Cheaper Plan
The cable operator says it wants more subscribers to get high-def.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (November 20, 2007) -- Comcast yesterday said Detroit customers will now be able to get most High-Definition channels with a less expensive, "basic" programming package.
That's according to The Detroit News, which reports that the difference between the basic package and the "preferred" package is about $14 a month.
Previously, Comcast subscribers in Detroit needed the preferred package to get access to high-def channels. But the basic plan will now include all HD channels except for the premium networks such as HBO and Showtime.
It's unclear if Comcast will make the same offer in other markets. But in Detroit at least, it appears that the cable operator is trying to counter DIRECTV's recent expansion of high-def channels.
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Consumer Reports: High Marks for HDTV DVD Players
The magazine rates nine different high-def disc players.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (November 17, 2007) -- What's the best High-Definition DVD players on the market?
According to Consumer Reports magazine, it's the Pioneer BDP-94HD Blu-ray player and the Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD player.
In the December issue, the publication rates nine different High-Definition DVD players, giving top scores of 91 to the Pioneer and Toshiba players.
Consumer Reports says both players offer an "excellent" HD picture and an "excellent" picture when upconverting standard-def DVD movies.
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HDNet: Last Call For True Music
The indie music show will end its run after nearly six years.
By Katie Daryl
True Music Hostess
Editor's Note: HDNet's True Music, a weekly program featuring up-and-coming bands and musicians, will end a near-six-year run this Sunday. Below, Katie Daryl, the show's host from the beginning, reports on what she has planned for the final episode, which airs Sunday night on HDNet at 8 p.m.
Los Angeles (November 15, 2007) -- True Music fans, I have some sad but exciting news for you! This Sunday, November 18th, will be our LAST "True Music w/ Katie Daryl" on HDNet.
After five and a half years, and almost 300 bands, we've decided to close the curtains on this fabulous HD music show. Of course you can still catch all my crazy antics on Deadline! each Friday and we are working on some new projects as well, so fear not I'm not going anywhere!
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Warner Puts Dual High-Def DVD On Hold
The disc would have include both Blu-ray and HD DVD versions.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (November 14, 2007) -- Warner Bros. last January vowed to end the Blu-ray-HD DVD war by issuing high-def discs that would include both versions of the film.
But nearly a year later, the studio is telling the web site High-Def Digest that the 'Total HD' disc is on hold -- indefinitely.
"The short answer is, for the moment, it (Total HD) is on hold," Jim Noonan, Warner's senior vice president of strategic promotion, told the site.
Last January, Warner said the Total HD, which would have the Blu-ray version on one side and the HD DVD on the other, would comfort consumers who were concerned about picking a losing format in the high-def disc war.
Blu-ray and HD DVD are rival formats with players that are not compatible with each other.
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DIRECTV Adds 24 More HD Channels
The new list includes six new basic cable networks.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (November 14, 2007) -- DIRECTV today added 24 new High-Definition channels, including six more basic cable networks in high-def.
By DIRECTV's count, today's additions gives the satcaster approximately 100 HD channels, its long-stated goal for the year.
The new HD channels added today include: Biography HD (channel 266); Spike HD (channel 325); Country Music Television HD (channel 327); MTV HD (channel 331); VH1 HD (channel 335); and Nickelodeon HD (channel 299).
Those six channels are simulcasts of their standard-def lineups.
[ 53 comments ]
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Swanni's 10 Sexiest Women In HDTV!
Thinking about buying a high-def set? If you're a guy, here are 10 really good reasons.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (November 13, 2007) -- High-Definition TV can be most cruel. The picture is so clear that you can detect even the hint of a new wrinkle forming on an otherwise perfect face.
However, celebrities who are naturally beautiful in real-life look even better in ultra-real HD. Their skin, hair and smile somehow take on an extra radiance, all but overwhelming the viewer with their raw physical attractiveness.
So in honor of true beauty, I am now publishing our third annual...
Swanni's 10 Sexiest Women in HDTV!
These 10 TV celebrities/actresses are so 'HDTV hot' that they could break up your marriage with a single flip of the remote.
[ 33 comments ]
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Amazon: Buy One Blu-ray; Get One Free
The e-commerce site offers more than 70 selections.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (November 13, 2007) -- Amazon, the e-commerce site, is now offering a special promotion on select Blu-ray discs: Buy one and get one free.
The offer comes as Blu-ray's rival, HD DVD, appears to be gaining momentum in the high-def disc format war. Several retailers have dropped the price of Toshiba's entry-level HD DVD player (HD-A2) to under $200, triggering sales of more than 100,000 players in the last week or so.
Sony, the leading backer of the Blu-ray format, said last week that it's unlikely that Blu-ray player prices will fall under $399 this holiday season.
However, LionsGate, a studio that backs Blu-ray, yesterday said in a conference call with Wall Street analysts that it expects Blu-ray player prices to fall soon.
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EchoStar's Ergen Fires Back
The satcaster chief tries to explain slow sub growth; also reveals new satellite launches for high-def.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (November 13, 2007) -- EchoStar CEO Charlie Ergen yesterday said several reasons were behind his company's 63 percent fall in subscriber growth in the third quarter.
His list included the housing slump and more competition from cable and satellite operators. But he added that one of the causes can be found in the mirror.
"We haven't really executed very well operationally during the last six months," he told analysts yesterday in an investors call. "I am looking forward to spending more time in the operations side so I understand it better."
EchoStar on Friday revealed that it added 111,000 net new subscribers in the third quarter, compared to 295,000 in last year's third quarter. The company's stock dropped nearly 16 percent yesterday on the news.
In contrast, DIRECTV added 240,000 new subscribers in the third quarter. DIRECTV began its high-def expansion in the third quarter, which analysts yesterday said likely contributed to EchoStar's subscriber slow down.
[ 18 comments ]
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