How many RVers still have satellite TV? We’re not sure, but for those that do, listen up. DirectTV is snapping up Dish TV and the sling TV streaming business. And here’s the price: $1. One dollar cash—with one caveat. DirecTV takes the company and the debt. $9.75 billion worth of debt. The real question for satellite TV viewers is this: How will it affect you—and your satellite TV bill? RV DirecTV and Dish run away together.
RV DirecTV and Dish run away with each other—maybe
Maybe it’s like merging grocery stores. Big chain takes over another big chain, and everybody’s happy, right? That story is still wending its way through government regulation because frankly, a lot of folks say buying a loaf of bread could get a lot more costly if the big grocery merger goes through.
The same might be held for the DirecTV/Dish merger. These two companies are basically the last of the satellite TV purveyors. The number of choices you have when shopping for satellite TV will suddenly shrink.
Here’s DirecTV’s take on the deal, as far as how the customer will end up. They say the deal “will benefit U.S. video consumers by creating a more robust competitive force in a video industry dominated by streaming services owned by large tech companies and programmers.”
Can we read that r-e-a-l slow? Creating a more robust competitive force in video industry dominated by streaming services? This RV reporting pair doesn’t have a satellite dish. We flip on the flat screen, grab the Roku remote and get what we want.
Yes, we do have access to a couple of “premium” providers, but these are ones we pick, and pay individually for. No “package” deal. We effectively spend less than $25 a month for those providers, and we get a lot of “free” stuff, of course, with the mandated commercials that the free providers support themselves with. On the other hand, we’re not tied into a given contract time frame with a satellite TV provider.
Yes, you have to have internet access to watch the tube on a service like Roku. In our business, having internet access is a must. We’d pay for it whether we got TV or not.
Yeah, the deal is good to go for the two companies, but what about the feds?
All that aside, it’s not even possible to predict what will happen to satellite TV subscription prices if this deal goes through. And it is a BIG if. These two satellite giants have tried to push through a merger before, only to have the feds turn the deal down out of antitrust concerns.
And there’s not just one regulatory agency to hoop-jump through. The Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice are two big players, and other agencies could jump in, too.
Still, one investment firm thinks it could happen. “We believe regulatory approval is likely to be greater than 50% given the opportunity for the combined company to improve its competitiveness to offer a range of linear video packages as well as to take a more aggressive stance on offering a live streaming video product,” Michael Rollins of Citi Investment Research wrote in a note to clients.
One major RV satellite service? Maybe yes, maybe no. The big grocery giants are still in D.C., arguing their case for a merger. There could be a giant break in TV distribution technology before the RV DirecTV and Dish merger sees a yea or nay.
For more information on RV satellite TV—and alternatives—click here.
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Thank you, Russ and Tina! 🙂 Interesting. I guess this will turn on whether the FCC, DOJ, and FTC buy the argument that the relevant market is “visual entertainment.” That is, are the relevant competitors streaming services — YouTube TV, Paramount+, Disney/Hulu/ESPN+, etc.,. — or satellite and cable companies. I don’t see the Feds saying the market is only satellite-based providers. What do you think? I kinda wish I were not retired, this would be an interesting case to work. 😉 Thanks again, have a great day, and safe travels! 🙂
I’m glad I am old, slow and stupid. I still have VCR tapes to watch once I figure out how to set the time and stop the red light from flashing. Yes, I did upgrade from Beta already.
I don’t consider beta to vhs an upgrade🫣
Well, when the Beta machine died, I was basically forced to go to the VCR. I am just hoping that my 8-track player doesn’t die too soon. Then I guess I will have to buy into those cassette tape things. (Seriously, I still have a spool for a wire recorder and hope to one day find someone that can transcribe it for me to something a bit more modern.)