NRTC DirecTV Numbers Down

[Steve Mehs]

The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative's rural DirecTV business lost subscribers in the fourth quarter, falling from 1,697 million reported as of Sept. 30, 2002, to 1.665 million as of year-end 2002.

The subscriber numbers follow a similar trend at Pegasus, which sells DirecTV through NRTC affiliates.

Pegasus' DBS subscribers numbered 1.308 million at the end of the fourth quarter. During the three-month period, the company reported a net subscriber loss of 33,000. During 2002, Pegasus had a net subscriber loss of 73,000.

From SkyReport (http://www.skyreport.com/skyreport/mar2003/032403.shtm#three) (Used with Permission)

[bills976]

Couldn't happen to a nicer company.... seems like the population patterns are shifting... ;)

[NRTC sucks]

I only wish Rupert would figure some way to get rid of the NRTC (Pegasus) entirely. That would be a good thing for alot of DTV content subscribers.....

[adkeith]

My Dad just switched from Pegasus to Dish this weekend because of Pegasus not doing what they said. He has a lake home and they said they will switch it off and on for 2.00 and failed to do so and got nasty with them on the phone. He is now a Dish customer with the At150 which suits him better since most of what he watches is the encore theme channels. If Rupert could make them go away it would help Directv a lot. I will go back to cable before I pay an extra 4.50 a month for Pegasus.

[boba]

adkeith your father can subscribe to the Encore package for $4.99/Mo. without subscribing to AT-150. For example if the AT-50 package had the channels he liked at $24.99 and he added the Encore thematics for 4.99 he would be at $29.98 rather than $42.99.

[SamC]

Doesn't the contract with the NRTC run out at some point in this decade? All they have to do is wait it out.

[adkeith]

Boba, I will have to mention just the theme channels to him with the AT50.
You would think the NRTC would have gotten there investment back many times by now. That was a great investment if it never runs out and you can gouge people forever. Directv has a wonderful service but I work with two people that has dish because of problems they had with Pegasus.