adding some 50,000 subscribers each month. In addition to movies, the service's programming includes extensive professional and collegiate sports coverage, cable channels, and CD-quality audio and pay-per-view (PPV) events. DirecTV plans to phase out Primestar service by 2002, adding 2 million mostly rural converts to the DirecTV subscriber list. The company had $1.8 billion of sales in 1998, a 42% increase over 1997.Market PlayerOwnerStartupDateSatellitesDishSizeNo. Of ChannelsHouseholdsDirecTVGM Hughes1994GM HughesDBS1, DBS2, DBS318"2004.80 millionEchoStar"Dish" NetworkEchosphere Corp.1996Echo 1, Echo 218"1502.04 millionPrimestarDirecTV1990GE-227"1202.32 millionEchoStarEchoStar Communications started its Digital Information Sky Highway (DISH) Network in March 1996. Like DirecTV/USSB, it is a High Power DBS provider. EchoStar's market share rose from 20% to 24% from 1998 to 1999. More indicative of the company's progress was its increase in subscribers, rising from 1 million in 1998 to 2.4 million in 1999, a 96% increase. EchoStar transmits more than 120 channels from a Full-CONUS orbital slot, and also owns rights to East Coast and West Coast transponders from which it plans to deliver local data services, foreign language programming and other channels via an additional antenna dish. EchoStar competes by offering lower hardware prices and monthly fees. Unlike DirecTV, EchoStar can deliver local broadcast channels in major markets. It also has the most "superstation" programming. A 6 ~ 10 channels Christian religious service from the East Coast satellite, SkyAngel, is partnered with EchoStar. Echostar had $983 million of sales in 1998, a 106% increase over the previous year.3.Competitiveness for Choosing DBSReasons1. Cannot get cable serviceIf cable is not available and your off-air local reception is poor, or you want to get some of the cable type channels like CNN, ESPN, A&E, etc. DirecTV is the answer.2. Hate the cable ...
