Expect a Good 2Q for DBS, Sat Radio

[Steve Mehs]

Expect good second quarter subscriber numbers for both DirecTV and EchoStar's DISH Network, one analyst said.

SG Cowen's Tom Watts released second quarter projections for the companies Wednesday. He suggested DirecTV will have about 160,000 net additions and DISH Network will net 275,000.

Watts said he expects satellite TV to continue capturing market share from cable as it rolls out more local TV markets.

As for satellite radio, Watts said XM's announcement that it added 206,000 new customers in the second quarter was close to his estimate of 190,000. XM said it had 692,253 customers as of June 30. Sirius hit the 100,000 subscriber mark at the end of May, and Watts said the company should report around 38,000 net new adds for the second quarter.

A positive for the satellite radio business: Both companies have taken further steps to eliminate their respective funding gaps during the second quarter, Watts added.

From SkyReport (http://www.skyreport.com) (Used with Permission)

[BobMurdoch]

I did my part to help out XM by adding my wife's SUV to the subscriber numbers this weekend. I converted to quarterly billing so we could qualify for the family plan which basically means that every third month is free for her subscription.

Another FM listener bites the dust. Who's next?

[Cyclone]

I'm still an AM customer. So it would be a while for me. My best friends wife used to work for XM down in DC. He used to get free XM shirts and stuff. We even got free tickets from XM for the D.C. Gran Prix last year. Shame it was cancelled this year.

[Scott Greczkowski]

I now have 5 XM Radios. :)

Can never have too much of a good thing!

[Mark Holtz]

It woud be interesting to see how many of those DBS people are dissatisfied cable customers. One also wonders how many of Dish's additions are AT50 customers.

[Jacob S]

It would be interesting to see how many of these customers previously had Dish or DirecTv in the past.

[RichW]

I suspect that most are ex-cable subscribers. In a lackluster economy, people still want their entertainment, especially TV. But the free DBS deals are tempting to folks who want to pare down the budget while keeping the "cable" channels.

[Steve Mehs]

I'm looking into XM, I was tempted to go to WalMart pick one up the other day, but I have more important accessories to buy. I'm still not convinced satellite radio is the best thing around, even after playing around with various XM and Sirrius units at Best Buy, but I'll give it a try one of these months. But I still better be able to use my 6 disc CD changer with the sat radio unit or it will be a no sale.

[Richard King]

I am leaning toward Sirrius myself. From what I have read the majority opinion is that they give better audio quality and they do have fewer ads. I don't know when I will make the leap though. I have been doing some servicing of satellite systems at gas stations and hotels lately and drive about 140 miles each way typically to the job, so good radio programming would be a good thing to have.