Murdoch might take on Charlie again!

There is some speculation in this article but the signs are there that Murdoch is not quite done with Charlie.



In coming weeks, Murdoch and his team will likely step up the pressure to kill the planned merger. EchoStar executives have always said it would take a year or longer to run the gauntlet of approvals -- from the Federal Communications Commission to the Federal Trade Commission -- needed for the merger to go through. And that process doesn't include all the congressional pressure that will be applied to the regulators.

biz.yahoo.com/bizwk/01121...coq_1.html (http://biz.yahoo.com/bizwk/011217/8ch74qrfl2odlmnu_zocoq_1.html)

The third time might be the charm for Rupert.

Charlie holds the TRUMP card. A commitment to 100% LIL coverage for everyone..

Now I am sure he doesnt want to put it on the table, but it would cinch the deal.......

Personally I hope its necessary, it would put cable and DBS on a level playing field.

Unless E* is holding back on new technologies involving broadband delivery then I don't ever see a time where the field will be level between satellite and cable. Sure DBS provides all digital audio and video, which is something cable can't claim, but it's only a matter of time until they too eventually provide all digital now isn't it.

The victor will be the one that can bundle the most services and the most value. With E* or DTV effectively pricing themselves out of the broadband avalanche(ok albeit a slow moving one at times lol) then I see the gap between dbs and cable growing not shrinking.

Last but not least it is real hard for me to be enthused about either one of these guys. Anyone care to show me where either has made profits? I'm still looking for one from either one of them. J

Actually, Dish was profitable for the past two quarters. I suspect that might change in the next quarter and certainly will change for a while when and if the merger happens.

www.corporate-ir.net/irey..._id=218915 (http://www.corporate-ir.net/ireye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=dish&script=410&layout=-6&item_id=218915)

www.corporate-ir.net/irey..._id=192451 (http://www.corporate-ir.net/ireye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=dish&script=410&layout=-6&item_id=192451)

Thank you! I have to say that a $157 million improvement over them same quarter last year is something to cheer about.

One has to wonder how a merger would affect such profits and how long they would be back in debt over the deal. J

I think cable is a would rather see E* with DirecTV than News Corp. Of course the Vivendi deal could change that.

I think the merger gets shot down.

I don't think the regulators will shoot down the merger, but they might put some conditions on it which make it unprofitable.

I have always held that Murdoch is a snake! I was disheartened a few years ago when it looked like he was going to team up with Dish. I was glad when that merger fell through. I was elated when Charlie basically won his suit over that fiasco. Murdoch will be bad for DBS if he gets his hands on DirecTV.

While Charlie seems to have difficulty running E* at times, I beliee he is committed to the DBS industry. Yes, he has made a fortune with it, but I don't believe that only money motivates the man. In fact, he pledged his personal fortune for awhile in order to get DirecTV. If there was anyone I would feel good about running a "monopoly", it would be Charlie. He may be "cheap", he may be inept at times.(but he is learning), but his heart is in the right spot, IMHO. He actually cares about the company.