The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / The Inevitable Is Near: Dish Network & DirecTV To Merge In The U.S.

**Posted by RadioActive** September 30, 2024 8:05 am

If you've even been slightly following this story, it was, in the end, almost inevitable. Two giant satellite rivals appear ready to finally become one. In a plan that's been in the works for some time, it's been announced that DirecTV and Dish network will merge, leaving one satellite programmer left in the U.S.

Both companies have been plagued by cord cutting, losing millions of subscribers over the years. This deal has been talked about for a long time, but the guy behind Dish, an exec. named Charlie Ergen, has been playing hardball over this move. It's not immediately clear if he'll have any say in this new world order of satellite delivered cable TV programming down south.

Both companies have been in the news here for having to strip out certain channels from their line-ups (usually Disney and Paramount/CBS, the two most greedy providers in the business) over pay disputes. They generally happen just before a big event, like the NFL season or the Super Bowl, holding both sat companies hostage, until a resolution is found. Which means a vicious circle of higher prices for subscribers, followed by more cancellations of service.

If the U.S. government approves the deal, which has been turned down before in a different era, it will create a single entity that will cover the entire United States. Whether that will bring back subscribers who have fled for streaming is another story.

But one business analyst thinks this is only delaying another inevitable.

"Adding a year or so to the expected life of satellite TV isn’t going to change the narrative for programmers, distributors, or even for satellite TV.”

DirecTV to Acquire Dish in Merger of Satellite TV Rivals

**Posted by RadioActive** September 30, 2024 8:13 am

I just spoke to my friend, who pays in American funds for his U.S. satellite service in Canada. (I believe he may be on Dish.) He's unhappy with the news that he might eventually lose access to all his channels, which he's had for years, if both companies eventually go out of business. That's not imminent, but many believe it's coming.

I'm not entirely sure how many Canadians have this quasi-illegal service in this country, but they're bound to wonder about their viewing choices after they hear what's coming - and when.

**Posted by mace** September 30, 2024 3:09 pm

From what I understand, Direct and Dish do not sell their product outside of the U.S. For Canadians to legally purchase the product, they have to obtain a U.S. address, usually a PO box which is most commonly known as the Grey Market. Most popular addresses are located in less populated states like Montana, Idaho and Wyoming because there are few if any sports blackouts.

**Posted by RadioAaron** September 30, 2024 3:16 pm

Black market IPTV services have dried up most of the Canadian demand for these.

**Posted by RadioActive** September 30, 2024 3:25 pm

My friend has the attitude that it's not really illegal as long as he pays full price for it. Therefore no one is getting ripped off.

Anything about Canadian rights does not seem to bother him. And yes, he does have a U.S. address that he uses. Where he got that, I have no idea, because he doesn't actually own any American property. He pays monthly by credit card, so no bill comes his way.

**Posted by Radiowiz** September 30, 2024 3:25 pm

Direct TV is heavily pushing the idea that you don't need a dish anymore to watch TV.
Dish Network doesn't seem to be making the same claim.
If the two merge, this will most likely mean the end of the dish, period.

**Posted by In Phase** September 30, 2024 7:34 pm

RadioActive wrote:
My friend has the attitude that it's not really illegal as long as he pays full price for it. Therefore no one is getting ripped off.

Actually, he's ripping off Canadian broadcasters

**Posted by RadioAaron** September 30, 2024 7:40 pm

In Phase wrote:
RadioActive wrote:
My friend has the attitude that it's not really illegal as long as he pays full price for it. Therefore no one is getting ripped off.
Actually, he's ripping off Canadian broadcasters

And there's yet another problem with vertical integration.

If people feel their cell/internet provider is ripping them off, most will have no problem with ripping them off right back.

**Posted by RadioActive** September 30, 2024 8:00 pm

In Phase wrote:
RadioActive wrote:
My friend has the attitude that it's not really illegal as long as he pays full price for it. Therefore no one is getting ripped off.
Actually, he's ripping off Canadian broadcasters

You're right, but he doesn't see it that way. He thinks all services should be North America wide - the old Open Skies concept - so everyone competes equally. And therefore, as long as he's footing the bill, he sleeps very soundly at night. What he'll do if Dish or DirecTV disappears I have no idea.

**Posted by ED1** September 30, 2024 8:08 pm

If the US can no longer support two national satellite TV services, I wonder how long until either Bell Satellite TV or Shaw Direct goes away.

**Posted by RadioAaron** September 30, 2024 8:18 pm

ED1 wrote:
If the US can no longer support two national satellite TV services, I wonder how long until either Bell Satellite TV or Shaw Direct goes away.

Both, soon.

Bell and Rogers are both pushing their satellite customers to switch to fibre, hard. Only rural/remote customers who have no choice will be left, soon.

**Posted by Radiowiz** September 30, 2024 9:07 pm

In Phase wrote:
RadioActive wrote:
My friend has the attitude that it's not really illegal as long as he pays full price for it. Therefore no one is getting ripped off.
Actually, he's ripping off Canadian broadcasters

I think you mean it's ripping off the sim sub.

**Posted by PMC** October 1, 2024 7:14 am

RadioAaron wrote:
ED1 wrote:
If the US can no longer support two national satellite TV services, I wonder how long until either Bell Satellite TV or Shaw Direct goes away.
Both, soon.

Bell and Rogers are both pushing their satellite customers to switch to fibre, hard. Only rural/remote customers who have no choice will be left, soon.

I'm not rural. Lived in downtown Mississauga for over 40 years. Yet my pocket of the city has access only to Bell Satellite. No Bell Fibe for us! So, it really only leaves us with the red option for TV.

**Posted by In Phase** October 1, 2024 9:00 am

RadioAaron wrote:
Bell and Rogers are both pushing their satellite customers to switch to fibre, hard. Only rural/remote customers who have no choice will be left, soon.

The other viable option for many rural customers is wireless (aka cellular and "silo internet"). With the deployment of 5G and more cell sites, customers can switch to "wireless home internet" and subscribe to streaming services. Many rural homes have already made the switch.

**Posted by RadioActive** November 13, 2024 11:25 am

And now it appears the inevitable may not be so inevitable, after all.

Together, they would be a formidable competitor. Apart, will either survive?

This will not make my friend with the U.S. satellite dish happy.

DirecTV Will Not Move Forward With Dish Merger