DirecTV enjoys fruitful Q1, demand for HD / DVRs to thank
By Darren Murph 
posted May 7th 2008 1:59PM
posted May 7th 2008 1:59PM
Nah, Comcast wasn't shedding any tears after announcing its Q1 2008 earnings, but DirecTV must be grinning from ear-to-ear. Aside from seeing its earnings rise 10-percent and revenues climb 17-percent, the satcaster also managed to grab 275,000 net subscriber additions. Analysts were quite pleased with the exceptionally low churn rate, as many of its subscribers seem to be staying put. And with close to a hundred HD channels on tap, who can blame them? It was also noted that average revenue per subscriber crept up from $73.40 to $79.70, and an increasing demand for high-definition programming and DVRs were largely to thank. Is making the switch from cable to satellite worth it? Seems that quite a few folks said yes with their wallets this past quarter.[Via BloggingStocks]
I tried to cancel my service 5 or 6 times over the last 3 years because I switched to Dish Network. They have repeatedly told me I am lying when I call to cancel or complain. They also told me I was lying when I was told a service person would be to my home and they didn't show. Needless to say, they don't deserve anything profits.
Let's see Comcast upgrades nearly 500,000 people from Basic to Digital Cable...yet they are bleeding customers. (and I wasn't even counting HSI and CDV)
DirecTV nets 275,000 customers for the quarter and things are just great.
Hmmm...and look at that RPS going up from $73 to almost $80.00, yeah I am sure all those (57,000) that paid $50-$60 a month for Expanded Basic jumped right at the chance to pay $80.00 for DirecTV.
As a current customer of both companies, if I could get my internet from DTV, I would drop comcast in a heartbeat.
I switched to DirecTV from Insight Cable a month ago simply because I could pay the same money to get far more HD channels.
I'd do it again in a heartbeat - plus now I don't have to deal with the ultra-crappy Motorola Cable boxes.
Good to see they're doing well, they deserve it. Great service (way more HD channels than TWcinci), awesome prices ($25/month cheaper for me), and I hear you on those motorola boxes, TrentD. So glad I finally switched...
DirecTV also jacked their prices up several times to get that revenue increase. Not only the normal increase, but they forced their longer term subscribers to migrate to a new account type (+ $2) that provided fewer HD channels, but for $5 more you could have them back.
I switched a couple of months ago and I've yet to look back. The DVR is mediocre at best but I'm adjusting. The HD channels are what I watch more than anything. Install was seamless. I can't complain too much....
I am more then happy with my DTV DVR and HD channels.. Can't wait to get HD football this year with Sunday Ticket.
the HD DVR is lacking in a lot of features. I have had my audio loose sync with video when I rewind during a show, and my harddrive froze up and recorded a 13 hour show.