Satellite broadcaster EchoStar Communications
EchoStar added 285,000 subscribers in the quarter -- short of the 300,000 estimate, to finish the quarter with 9.1 million subscribers. On the other end, Hughes Electronics'
Worse, average monthly revenue per subscriber fell from $51.60 in the second quarter to $50.79, though up year over year. At the same time, the acquisition cost per subscriber rose 14% sequentially and 13% year over year.
Product delays -- including high-definition receivers, multiple receiver set-top boxes, and the SuperDish -- also hurt results, and should have an impact on the fourth quarter as well.
EchoStar faces an increasingly competitive market. Similar to what cable operator Charter Communications
Interestingly, the company didn't include a free cash flow figure in the press release, unlike last quarter. But again, it released its 10-Q yesterday.
EchoStar had a weak quarter in a highly competitive environment, one that should produce more of the same results in the coming quarters.
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Jeff Hwang can be reached at [email protected].