I seriously cannot believe we are still talking about this. Lately there has been a lot more chatter about DIRECTV and DISH merging. There are blogs that compete with this one who think it’s a done deal. After all, DISH’s Charlie Ergen has been talking about it to anyone who will listen. I have a lot of respect for him, but I think he’s being intentionally optimistic. I think there’s a lot to talk about before it happens.
The companies did try to merge a long time ago, and the government didn’t look kindly on it. At that time, the two companies had fairly similar technology, but since both companies have gone their own way and their stuff is so different that combining them would be like trying to fix a foreign car with non-metric tools.
I finally got tired of the rumors popping up over and over again, and I went to town on the subject twice, once in 2012 and again in 2014. I even came up with this fancypants graphic that combined the look of the DISH logo with the words “DIRECTV” …
which is probably against all the standards and practices of both companies and I have to admit I’m a little surprised that no one has complained. I mean, think about it, it’s been a decade.
A 2022 perspective
A lot of what I wrote in 2012 is still true, perhaps even more so. The two companies have vastly diverging technologies. They have grown and changed so that they are totally different. They’re as different as two companies providing the same service can be.
Because both companies have been losing subscribers for some time, the costs associated with merging are going to be an even bigger concern. You’re talking about replacing all the equipment for millions of people. That’s a pretty big writedown. Losing that kind of money could sink a combined company. You’d also lose some customers along the way, that’s guaranteed.
There’s also the perspective of the two legal teams. Combining the contracts between the two could take years. I don’t even want to think about it, honestly. Remember that even with all the consolidation in the industry lately, there are still hundreds and hundreds of companies to negotiate with.
I know I should never say never, I just can’t see a good pathway for this to happen. I couldn’t 10 years ago, and I can’t now. That’s why you can still feel comfortable staying with satellite TV, no matter which provider you use.
Doubling down suddenly seems like a good idea
I think all this talk about merging is making people a little nervous about staying with the provider they have. I’m here to tell you that you can feel good about who you have chosen. In fact, you can feel good about upgrading. If you’re curious about what that means, call us! We’re DIRECTV and DISH dealers and can offer you the best deals without the hard sales pitch. Call 888-233-7563 during East Coast business hours. If it’s after hours, fill out the form below.
