DirecTV Group saw its second quarter profits decrease 11% versus the same quarter last year, but the good news is, net new subscribers increased by 224,000 upping its total worldwide subscriber base to 24.2 million. Most of the growth seems to be coming in Latin America. DirecTV now claims 18.3 million users in the United States as of June 30, 2009.
DirecTV saw a net quarterly profit of $407 million, compared with $455 million last year, but revenues rose to $5.22 billion versus $4.81 billion a year ago. Increased competition is driving the cost of gaining new subscribers higher.
It would be curious to see what profit DirecTV makes off its Sunday NFL ticket and NHL center ice packages. Every year the Sunday NFL ticket price goes up. I know having many of the games in HD adds to the price, but DirecTV is price gouging the subscribers.
It would also be interesting to see cable and DISH subscriber info for the same time period. I wonder if these are new to satellite subscribers – or just switching from cable or DISH.
It seems that this is due to declining premium channel subscribers, so I wonder if that will translate into less Sunday Ticket subscribers. I know that’s DirecTV’s big money maker, and they spent a lot to renew their contract, so I wonder if this is going to be bad news for them.
I don’t believe DirecTV is price gouging when it comes to Sunday Ticket. This is my second year with DirecTV. Last year, for me, Sunday Ticket was free (late July/early August they run the free Sunday Ticket promo for new subscribers).
This year it’s $270 for Sunday Ticket + $100 for Super Fan.
The extra $100 gives you every game in HD, Game Mix and the Red Zone Channel in HD, Monday & Tuesday Short Cuts game replays (every game replayed in 30 minutes), Sunday Ticket Online (watch games on computer if you’re not at home), and, this year, they’ve added Sunday Ticket Mobile for live streaming on your smart phone.
For $370, you can watch as much of the NFL as you want, where ever you are.
I’m not sure about adding links, but here’s a good story about DirecTV, Sunday Ticket, and subscriber numbers.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/190869-DirecTV_s_Sunday_Ticket_Renewal_Sets_NFL_Network_s_Game_Plan.php
How much longer is Direct TV (As well as Cable and Dish) going to keep their currant number of Subscribers? Nobody I have talked to has had anything good to say of either provider lately. Programming Quality continues to head south with “Reality” Shows spreading like some Malignancy from Hades, and the ever-increasing number of Commercials and On-Screen Promos reaching the point of Insanity.
I “Cut the Cord” 31 Months ago, and I don’t see myself returning anytime soon!
Heh, this seems to be the opposite of Time Warner Cable’s results from a week ago.
TWC lost customers, but actually had higher profits.