Report: Dish, DirecTV Discuss Possible Merger

Fox ^ | Matt Egan

[SoFloFreeper]

In response to Comcast’s (CMCSA) $45 billion buyout of Time Warner Cable (TWC), Dish Network (DISH) has reportedly sent feelers out to rival DirecTV (DTV) about a possible combination of the two satellite television companies.

The potential tie-up would marry the two largest U.S. satellite TV operators, creating a juggernaut with about 34 million subscribers.

According to Bloomberg News, Dish Chairman Charlie Ergen recently approached DirecTV CEO Mike White about a merger. White is reluctant to go ahead with formal talks due to concerns about opposition from antitrust regulators, the news service said.

[SoFloFreeper]

Team Obama is working hard to DIMINISH competition in the airline industry, news and entertainment, and health care. The goal? To create a nation of serfs.

[Thorliveshere]

Oh my gosh, I hope they work under Dish’s domain. I hated DirecTV.

[VTenigma]

Anti trust, monopoly? XM, Sirius merger really lowered the quality at XM. These mergers are not good IMO, everything run buy mega corporations (Amazon, big banks, et al) will have a very deleterious effect on the middle class in the long run.

[KoRn]

Would be nice if they could do a solid and fast internet service with a REALISTIC monthly data cap. They’ll never be able to compete in populated areas where cable is also available, without high speed internet.

[mylife]

Gotta fight the growing streaming market.

[Las Vegas Dave]

Oh my gosh, I hope they work under Dish’s domain. I hated DirecTV.

Dittos on hating DirecTV!

[Las Vegas Dave]

HDTV pings!

Interested in the HDTV ping list?
Please Freepmail me (freepmail works best) if you would like your name added to the HDTV ping list,
(approximately 375+ freepers are currently on the HDTV ping list).
The pinged subjects can be HDTV technology, satellite, cable, OTA HD reception (Over The Air with roof top or indoor antennas), Broadcast specials, Sports, Blu Ray/HDDVD, and any and all subjects relating to HDTV.

Note: if you search Freerepublic using the keyword HDTV, you will find most of the past HDTV postings.

LasVegasDave.

[Spartan302]

I had Dish for many many years, had to use a 2 meter dish back then, last spring I upgraded to HDTV and right from the start had nothing but problems.
After a couple months of run arounds and inept service I called up Direct TV, got more channels at a better price, most importantly the equipment worked, no more lost signals.

My only gripe is that Dish had a better search and record format, Direct is clunky and not so easy to navigate.
Tried to cancel Dish and they actually refused. They were good until I tried to use their HDTV in Alaska, maybe its only because of it in Alaska.

[Biggirl]

Look for those same serfs to “revolt”, mark my words.

[redgolum]

While I prefer Dish,I don’t like the union of the two. Competition is good.

[TNoldman]

You have backwards from my experience.

[Las Vegas Dave]

While I prefer Dish,I don’t like the union of the two. Competition is good.

Dittos!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Ditto.

[cuz_it_aint_their_money]

I had Comcast for 7 years and got tired of my bill going up every couple of months. I kid you not, my monthly bill started out at $45 for basic plus HBO & Showtime and after 7 years, the bill was in excess of $90 for basic alone, (after dropping HBO & Showtime) and that was with a VCR.

So… I dropped Comcast and went with Dish. Dish’s service was fine for the first two years (and $65 monthly bill) until the initial contract expired and then the service went to down-hill. Put up with so-so service and increasing monthly costs for another two years. After 4 years, the Dish bill was up to $115 a month.

So… Switched to Verizon’s FIOS. All I’ll say is that listed 3 months. (worst TV provider EVER!)

Finally switched to DirectTV. Got the middle tier, high def programming, with whole home DVR, local channels, and three separate high def receivers for the three other TVs and my monthly bill has stayed rock solid at $95 a month for 3 years now. The only time I’ve lost a signal was during a severe thunder storm.

So, I hope they DON’T merge! But if they do, I hope DirectTV takes the lead.

[ops33]

I agree. When we had satellite TV I asked about their internet service. It was very expensive, so much so that they weren’t competitive.

[ruesrose]

If they do merge, I hope it cancels out my contract with Directv so I will no longer have to pay for the junk that is available. I go days without turning on TV. I especially avoid the “news”.

[DoodleDawg]

So you’re saying the Commerce Department should refuse to allow these mergers to go through?

[IYAS9YAS]

Oh my gosh, I hope they work under Dish’s domain. I hated DirecTV.

I've had both. Most recently DirecTV. Never had a problem with either company. I did have a problem with a third-party installer with Dish Network. Dish Network handled it superbly. I've had nothing but good customer service from both.

[DoodleDawg]

Regardless of the domain, the only things coming out of the merger will be higher prices, worse service, massive layoffs, and larger executive bonuses.

[Ghost of SVR4]

I’m not posting as a holier than though “I ditched cable and satellite” type. Truth is, there a few channels I really like; only problem is there are 400+ channels I don’t like and didn’t want to sponsor with high cable/satellite monthly bills because my channels we’re in multiple “packages”. Hence, none of it for me minus my lowly DSL line and some netflix. I think cable and satellite would see an absolute boom if they went a la cart with their programming. I know I would join back up and I know the technology exists. Would a lot of channels die? Yup, capitalism at it’s finest.