01-10-02, 05:06 AM
It was a wild ride at the SkyFORUM at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) in Las Vegas: Charlie Ergen (chairman and CEO of EchoStar) and Bob Phillips (president and CEO of the NRTC) almost punched each other, Eddy Hartenstein (chairman and CEO of DirecTV) denied the possibility of a warm embrace from Ergen by saying "just as long as it doesn't involve the tongue" and Mark Pagon (chairman, president and CEO of Pegasus Communications) just demonstrated all around educated intelligence with his valid PhD.
And it didn't end there. To begin with, Charlie and Eddy were separated as their own "team" by panel moderator Sally Hofmeister (who sat in the middle of the panel), and Mark Pagon and Bob Phillips represented the "other side." In fact, during pre-discussions Eddy Hartenstein went as far as pouring a glass of water for Charlie Ergen, how nice. Maybe this is a match made in heaven? Probably not. After Pagon and Phillips stated their opinions, which ranged from "this merger has problems" and it's only "good for shareholders," Ergen and Hartenstein seemed down right flustered over the friendly banter.
And, so the discussions went on as all four panelists steamed the SkyFORUM meeting room with talk of the all-controversial DBS merger between DISH and DirecTV. However, Bob Phillips received the last words that pretty much gave the audience the impression that this whole deal is far from over: "Competition is the way we need to go."
SkyFORUM was also highlighted by a satellite broadband panel, starring the very good Harry Thibedeau, manager of satellite industry relations for the NRTC, as the moderator. Harry invited the thoughts of representatives from Hughes Network Systems, Starband and EchoStar. Plus, the panel was smoothed-out by the great satellite retailer himself, Greg Frasca, president for Sky Web, Inc.
The DARS update panel, starring Hugh Panero, president and CEO of XM Satellite Radio, and Joe Clayton, president and CEO of Sirius Satellite Radio, gave the crowd a pleasing discussion on business models and future outlooks of the industry. This panel, moderated by Ryan Jones, media and entertainment analyst with The Yankee Group, was far more pleasant in terms of no bickering. But Clayton wasn't about to pour some water for Panero during the discussion.
And, last but certainly not least, the "jetlagged" Straight From the Street panel, moderated by the great Media Business Corp editor-in-chief Evie Haskell, was surprisingly tame. Although, Rob Kaimowitz seemed a bit aggressive at times, the panel rounded out some light discussion on the merger, satellite broadband and DARS. Later, all the analysts present decided to offer a great stock tip: buy DISH.
From <a href="http://www.skyreport.com" target=none>SkyReport</a> (Used with permission)
And it didn't end there. To begin with, Charlie and Eddy were separated as their own "team" by panel moderator Sally Hofmeister (who sat in the middle of the panel), and Mark Pagon and Bob Phillips represented the "other side." In fact, during pre-discussions Eddy Hartenstein went as far as pouring a glass of water for Charlie Ergen, how nice. Maybe this is a match made in heaven? Probably not. After Pagon and Phillips stated their opinions, which ranged from "this merger has problems" and it's only "good for shareholders," Ergen and Hartenstein seemed down right flustered over the friendly banter.
And, so the discussions went on as all four panelists steamed the SkyFORUM meeting room with talk of the all-controversial DBS merger between DISH and DirecTV. However, Bob Phillips received the last words that pretty much gave the audience the impression that this whole deal is far from over: "Competition is the way we need to go."
SkyFORUM was also highlighted by a satellite broadband panel, starring the very good Harry Thibedeau, manager of satellite industry relations for the NRTC, as the moderator. Harry invited the thoughts of representatives from Hughes Network Systems, Starband and EchoStar. Plus, the panel was smoothed-out by the great satellite retailer himself, Greg Frasca, president for Sky Web, Inc.
The DARS update panel, starring Hugh Panero, president and CEO of XM Satellite Radio, and Joe Clayton, president and CEO of Sirius Satellite Radio, gave the crowd a pleasing discussion on business models and future outlooks of the industry. This panel, moderated by Ryan Jones, media and entertainment analyst with The Yankee Group, was far more pleasant in terms of no bickering. But Clayton wasn't about to pour some water for Panero during the discussion.
And, last but certainly not least, the "jetlagged" Straight From the Street panel, moderated by the great Media Business Corp editor-in-chief Evie Haskell, was surprisingly tame. Although, Rob Kaimowitz seemed a bit aggressive at times, the panel rounded out some light discussion on the merger, satellite broadband and DARS. Later, all the analysts present decided to offer a great stock tip: buy DISH.
From <a href="http://www.skyreport.com" target=none>SkyReport</a> (Used with permission)