DISH Network suffers 90% drop in subscriber growth during Q1
By Darren Murph 
posted May 13th 2008 12:06AM
posted May 13th 2008 12:06AM
Adding 22 new HD channels to its national HD lineup may boost the subscriber rate in Q2, but Q1 is apt to leave a lasting sting. While DirecTV managed to secure 275,000 net subscriber additions during its Q1, DISH Network mustered a paltry 35,000 -- down 90-percent from the 310,000 additions a year ago. Notably, the outfit still managed to report a higher quarterly profit thanks to "lower expenses following the spin-off of set-top box business EchoStar," but that little tidbit is mostly being overshadowed. Craig Moffett, analyst at Sanford Bernstein, even went so far as to suggest that the subscribers gained by other carriers during the quarter "clearly" came from DISH, and the company itself admitted that "gross net additions would likely continue to be negatively impacted by competitive factors" such as the expansion of FiOS TV. It's hard out there for a satcaster, wouldn't you say?[Image courtesy of HowToSatTV]
tv_thumbnail.jpg)
So you are admitting you were wrong on 5-5-2008 when you stated "If we had to guess, we'd say satellite / fiber are beginning to eat away at the coax-laden mothership."
Seem a satellite was not the only thing that Dish lost in Q1.
http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/05/comcast-thrives-on-broadband-digital-phone-subscriptions-in-q1/
This morning, I had my faith restored in Dish. Then, after everything - the bragging, the updated (wrong) HD count of 95.... just hours later, they KILL VOOM. 10 Channels!!!! I'm pissed, and I haven't even subscribed yet. Where is the corporate integrity? I definitely don't see how this tactic could possibly bolster subscriber growth!
Dish got rid of Voom???
Dish sucks.
90% drop from a business that is as big as dish is pretty scary IMO. This clearly shows the importance of marketing and details. Just look at DTV they claimed way before they even started gaining channels, hell they acted like they already had 100 HD channels, but they pushed it and gain from it. When it comes to HD I think that most of us care about 2 things and that is 1. price and 2. channels. The price is always second to selection though IMO.
They have been dragging their feet about their HD channels. DTV customers were getting HD channels that people wanted while Dish was offering VOOM channels, 15 of them to be exact. Not sure if ALL the Dish community liked the VOOM channels. The article describes that two of the MIA VOOM channels were fan favorites. Wonder what Dish is thinking???
I live in a TimeWarner cable area and have noticed several houses that used to have dishnetwork satellite dishes have removed them (or at least the LNBs). Also I rarely see a new satellite dish (dish or direct) added to a house locally. My guess is the cable companies triple play offer is converting some people back to cable and that the cable service is good enough to keep others from switching to satellite. At this point in time one would think that most people who live in "cable free Zones" have already signed up for satellite service and Dish also has problems with signal theft which may be causing subscriber loss.
Doc - It's not a 90% drop in business. It's a drop in growth.
Their picture quality is not bad and my ViP722 rocks, but their customer service SUCKS. Hands down worst experience of my entire life. Dropping the NFL Network HD for Dish 100+ customers without warning made me less than happy as well.
For years I preferred Dish over Direct. Dish stood up to the Viacom crap that tried to force every crappy Viacom channel down subscriber throats whether you wanted it or not (Do you really need 4 Disney channels?). They at least tried to fight some price increases instead of just keep passing it along.
But lately, between their corp decisions and the increased whining of "local channels", they have lost their way. There is simply no reason I should have to watch a rural "local" broadcast network channel when I have been able to watch (and pay for mind you) east coast AND west coast feeds. The forced local has horrible syndication and the quality of the local feeds is absolutely abysmal.
Direct has the better PR group. Their commercials are far and above better than any Dish has ever released. Perception is part of reality. You put out a crappy commercial and you don't attract customers.
Direct has also done a good bit of partnering with ATT to work out "bundle" package pricing. Dish supposedly is getting in on that too, but once again perception vs reality comes into play. They don't advertise it, so no one knows about it.
IMO, Dish's DVR beats any Direct can offer hands down, but if they keep it up, I am going to be leaving after 11 yrs and go to Direct.
Jamus: You do understand that the east/west coast vs local channels for your network channels was forced upon Dish by a court order and that direct has to follow the same rules? So all that leaves in you post is that direct's marketing is better? and you are thinking of switching because of that??
Just had to ask.
Yep, I know all about the Florida court ruling. Local broadcasters across the country love that one. I have been all over it with 3 local stations. Vouchers, etc... Dish held out longer than Direct when it came to that one. They fought it as long as I guess they could. Since they finally had to give in, it leaves a much more level field in my decision to keep Dish or get Direct.
Dish letting me keep my locals as long as they did was the big thing keeping me on with them. Since that has been gone, it has not been much difference. I have been with them since '97. If you are a "new" customer you get the good stuff. Existing customers get nothing special (same with Direct from what I can see). They have not done much to inspire brand loyalty to me, so if Direct offers a better deal and better equipment I have nothing keeping me around on Dish any longer.
With folks that have neither system, they see the commercials of Direct (clean, polished, big name actors lip synching ad spill, etc..) vs Dish commercials that are, let's just say "lesser quality" at best and it just does not give a good impression of Dish.
I have the Dish VIP722 as well and yes it does rock! Reading the posts here I am lead to believe that DTV DVR is not as good? Is this true? I'm ready to jump ship due to VOOM loss and other issues with Dish.