Murdoch on DirecTV: Now It's the Price

[Steve Mehs]

News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch told Reuters that his company's pursuit of DirecTV and Hughes may now be just a matter of the price tag.

The wire service, which was covering Murdoch at the Milken Institute Global Conference in California, reported that the News Corp. executive stopped short of suggesting his company would end up acquiring DirecTV. "It's just a question of price. They may decide to hold it," he said.

SBC reportedly dropped out of the running for DirecTV and Hughes, leaving News Corp. as the only serious bidder for the satellite TV assets.

From SkyReport (http://www.skyreport.com/skyreport/apr2003/040303.shtm#two) (Used with Permission)

[Eyedox]

There goes DirecHDTV out the window.

[Rick P]

all those that fought so hard against the D*/E* merger, remember.. you brought this on yourself...

[DCSholtis]

I WANT Murdoch to take Directv over.....I dont believe for a second he is anti-HD or anything like that.....IMHO Murdoch will be MUCH better than Cheap Charlie....or SBC.....or certainly Cablevision could have ever been.......I was one who was strongly against that damn merger......to this day I still think if Ergan would have gotten control it would have been the end of D*

[Crazy 1]

I agree, I was against the merger also, because I dumped Cheap Charlie some time back,due to customer service issues. DCSholtis, whats your thoughts on how Murdoch will run D*, should we expect more subsciption increases If Murdoch takes D*?

[Mad_Yes]

Dam why can't Murdoch take over E*. Maybe he is the only one that would have been able to put the YES network on Dish Network. This way I wouldn't have to leave Dish Network to get it.

[Eyedox]

If Rupert Murdoch is so "Pro HDTV", why is his crappy TV Network 480p instead of 720p or 1080i like all the real HD players? Does he think Americans are too stupid to tell the difference? Talk about being cheap!

[DCSholtis]

Originally posted by Crazy 1
I agree, I was against the merger also, because I dumped Cheap Charlie some time back,due to customer service issues. DCSholtis, whats your thoughts on how Murdoch will run D*, should we expect more subsciption increases If Murdoch takes D*?

Crazy, Not only do I NOT expect more sub increases (Rupert will have to compete with E* still he definately isnt a stupid businessman), I expect Murdoch to get Comcast to work out a deal to bring Comcast Sports Net Philly to D*....By being a programmer he could also threaten to withhold programming from Comcast if they dont change their minds.....as far as HD.....just wait a while on that right now there just isnt enough programming out there to justify Murdoch/Fox going ahead with 1080i.....Rupe IMHO will fall right into line there.....and I believe he may also implement some of the truely interactive things he has already done with Sky in the UK.....

[platinum]

I was against the merger as well, I didn't want one of those Echocrap receivers. I'm hoping Rupert gets his hands on D*

[sampatterson]

Just my opinion but Murdoch is evil. Don't want him to have E* or D*.

[raj2001]

Originally posted by Rick P
all those that fought so hard against the D*/E* merger, remember.. you brought this on yourself...

I'm actually thankful they didn't merge, and someone like Murdoch can be brought to the helm.

[bills976]

Originally posted by DCSholtis


Crazy, Not only do I NOT expect more sub increases (Rupert will have to compete with E* still he definately isnt a stupid businessman), I expect Murdoch to get Comcast to work out a deal to bring Comcast Sports Net Philly to D*....By being a programmer he could also threaten to withhold programming from Comcast if they dont change their minds.....as far as HD.....just wait a while on that right now there just isnt enough programming out there to justify Murdoch/Fox going ahead with 1080i.....Rupe IMHO will fall right into line there.....and I believe he may also implement some of the truely interactive things he has already done with Sky in the UK.....

I am in 100% agreement with you here. Fox News, while you might not agree with the politics, plus Fox broadcast as well as the Fox RSNs give Murdoch leverage that no one else has. All he has to threaten to do is pull the plug on one of those stations, and the programmers will fall in line. This can only be good for Directv... not necessarially for Echostar or cable, but most definitely for D*.

[pez2002]

Originally posted by DCSholtis


Crazy, Not only do I NOT expect more sub increases (Rupert will have to compete with E* still he definately isnt a stupid businessman), I expect Murdoch to get Comcast to work out a deal to bring Comcast Sports Net Philly to D*....By being a programmer he could also threaten to withhold programming from Comcast if they dont change their minds.....as far as HD.....just wait a while on that right now there just isnt enough programming out there to justify Murdoch/Fox going ahead with 1080i.....Rupe IMHO will fall right into line there.....and I believe he may also implement some of the truely interactive things he has already done with Sky in the UK.....



What programming could he withhold from comcast ???

[DCSholtis]

Ohhhhhhhhh how about RSNs just to begin with.....FoxNews......Fox Network.....while not necessarily withholding them.....maybe make is a little difficult for Comcast the next time the deals come up for transmission negotiation time....I can smell a Comcast Sportnet Philly deal coming soon after the ink is dried on the purchase agreements and the FCC ok...

[Cheyenne]

Directv being acquired by NewsCorp would be bad for both the customers and for stock holders. Not a profitable organization now. In order for Directv to become profitable, cutbacks of service and subscription increases would be required, and News would not hesitate to do so, as per documented history.

Liberty Media acquiring would be much more advantageous to all parties involved.

[bills976]

Originally posted by Cheyenne
Directv being acquired by NewsCorp would be bad for both the customers and for stock holders. Not a profitable organization now. In order for Directv to become profitable, cutbacks of service and subscription increases would be required, and News would not hesitate to do so, as per documented history.

Liberty Media acquiring would be much more advantageous to all parties involved.

I'm more than willing to accept a rate increase of upwards of five dollars in return for reliable service (I subscribe to TC+ w/locals). With Echostar it was always a game as to whether or not the channels I would want would be on next month. With Rupert you might be paying more, but you get a more reliable product.

Maybe Liberty Media would be a better suitor, I just don't know enough about them.

[Mike123abc]

Fox winning would be good for the philly market. Once they force the RSN onto satellite all carriers will be able to carry it then.

[Cheyenne]

DirecTv customers WILL be paying more if NewsCorp acquires.That is how NewsCorp works.

Not sure what "reliability" issues would improve and how ?
Ya'll know Liberty more than what you are aware of. Check into it.

IF NewsCorp did land the DirecTv deal, there would most certainly be terms as to distribution of RSN's without discrimination.

[SamC]

I can not think of a more consumer responsive, consumer oriented, well-run company than NEWS Corp. I cannot think of a less consumer responsive, consumer oriented, poorly-run company than GM. And GM doesn't even want to own DirecTV, they just have caretaker management while waiting on a sale to pay off their pension debts.

Ownership by a programming provider, like NEWS, protects all consumers. NEWS doesn't hold TWAOL up for NEWS channels on TWAOL cable, and TWAOL doesn't hold NEWS up for TWAOL channel on DirecTV:The Fox Box. And so on across the industry.

Comcast Sport Net-Philly. Access to UPN and WB for rural people. ESPNHD. Fox broadcast HD access for rural people where the local Fox won't do it. All within hours of the deal. The current empty suit mis-management will be fired, and replaced by people who respect the consumer.

The CSRs Big Book of Why the Customer is Always Wrong will be thrown away.

Welcome NEWS.

[DCSholtis]

Sam, the current Directv management is NOT mismanaging things.....the only reason you say that is your pissed that ESPNHD hasnt been added yet.

[mnassour]

Originally posted by DCSholtis
I WANT Murdoch to take Directv over.....I dont believe for a second he is anti-HD or anything like that.....

You'd better believe it, mister.

Murdoch has already said that Fox owned stations will never broadcast in true 1080i or 720p digital television. An engineer friend of mine at the local O&O says that everything they've received from network confirms that.

A Murdoch-owned DirecTV is the end of any expansion of HDTV on the system.

Go get DishNetwork.

End of story. :mad:

[mnassour]

Originally posted by SamC
I can not think of a more consumer responsive, consumer oriented, well-run company than NEWS Corp.

And that is exactly why you will not see HDTV on DirecTV for years and years...because the majority of TV sets that are available won't support it.


Welcome NEWS.


You asked for it...you got it.

And I don't want to hear anyone whining about it.:rolleyes:

[DCSholtis]

You wont here my whining....I want News Corp to end up with it...As I do not believe for a seond that he would ignore HD viewers he figures there arent that many channels available yet in HD.....arent that many Viewers equipped yet on their TVs or other equipment to receive the HD signals so why do it now....in the FUTURE you will see Fox go along with the rest and provide all the 1080i you could ever want or ask for....He will NOT destroy HD if/when he gets D*....get it thru your heads already....If you guys are THAT unhappy about it.....Switch to DISH and good ole cheap Charlie...Let him be your HD savior...Good Luck!

[mnassour]

With all due respect, DC, I don't think you get it.

Murdoch has told his stations to prepare for standard definition multicasting, and that means six miserable 480 line signals. And the equipment being bought by TV stations today will still be in use ten years from now.

So go ahead and watch your grainy Foxified signals, based upon a standard first discussed before World War II. If you think Ergen is cheap, you haven't experienced Murdoch. Go to Murdoch's Sky TV site, his European system, and look at the dreck that he peddles over there. That is the future of a Foxified DirecTV.

I just don't want DirecTV to be any part of that!!!!!:eek:

[DCSholtis]

I surely DO get it.....If your THAT unhappy about the prospect of Murdoch taking over....make the damn call to Cheap Charlie already....dial....1-800-IHate-Sports

[pez2002]

Originally posted by Mike123abc
Fox winning would be good for the philly market. Once they force the RSN onto satellite all carriers will be able to carry it then.



That would be cool if CCSN Was put on dtv

[Rick P]

just wait till Rupe DROPS the TiVo connection... he already HAS a dual-tuner PVR box that works with SKY+ (well, sorta).. why will he want the expense of having to deal with another piece of hardware.

http://www.sky.com/skycom/skyplus

[Karl Foster]

Originally posted by Rick P
just wait till Rupe DROPS the TiVo connection... he already HAS a dual-tuner PVR box that works with SKY+ (well, sorta).. why will he want the expense of having to deal with another piece of hardware.

http://www.sky.com/skycom/skyplus

It probably works better than the 721 which was our other alternative.... :)

Perhaps he will deal with them because Directv has a contract with them, and probably won't want to buy his way out of it. Is he really so arrogant and such a bad businessman that he would tell his best customers to f off and buy his PVR if they want one?

[Brett]

Originally posted by Cheyenne
Directv being acquired by NewsCorp would be bad for both the customers and for stock holders. Not a profitable organization now. In order for Directv to become profitable, cutbacks of service and subscription increases would be required, and News would not hesitate to do so, as per documented history.

Liberty Media acquiring would be much more advantageous to all parties involved.

cutbacks in service?

The more services the provider offers the more likely the customer chooses and stays with DirecTV. You see Dish and DirecTV running to launch more and more local markets! Comcast and other cable companies are spending millions to upgrade to offer digital cable,VOD, telephony, high speed internet etc. Dish has gained customers over DirecTV through carrying international programming, superstations, etc. Likewise, DirecTV has gained subscribers through its exclusive programming.

[Brett]

Originally posted by SamC


Access to UPN and WB for rural people.

Keep in mind WB competes with FOX. NewsCorp will favor their broadcast network (FOX) over WB, so *might* not bother to ensure rural viewers have WB access. Of course, I cant tell for sure what NewsCorp will do.

Cablevision that owns AMC, doesnt carry TCM on many of its systems. Cablevision that owns IFC, also refused to carry Sundance. Comcast that owns Outdoor Life Network dropped Fox Sports World off many systems (from reports I've heard). I've heard about these bad things. I agree with you though - I do think a NewsCorp DirecTV would better managed and more customer responsive though than the current DirecTV.

[Rick P]

Originally posted by karl_f
Is he really so arrogant and such a bad businessman that he would tell his best customers to f off and buy his PVR if they want one?

yes

(figured just give the short answer)

[Karl Foster]

So if he is such a bad businessman, how has he amassed a net worth of $5.7 billion?

While Mr. Ergen has more net worth ($6.2 billion), Murdoch isn't exactly a pauper.

These guys didn't amass this much of a fortune being stupid. Arrogant, yes - stupid, no.

http://www.forbes.com/2002/03/01/0301echostar.html

As I stated in another post, it will be good to have the whole issue put to bed one way or another. As far as investors putting their money into Directv, the uncertainty of the whole situation is not good. I'm sure the stakeholders in the company would like the issue decided and then the company can move on.