It took me years to make the switch from traditional cable service to satellite TV. To be honest, I was a bit skeptical at first, but my fears were quickly calmed by what I saw and heard. My EchoStar
I guess I'm not the only person who replaced a cable box in favor of a satellite dish. One look at EchoStar's second-quarter earnings underscores the company's ability to add new customers. With 340,000 new subscribers jumping aboard the satellite spaceship in the quarter (10,000 more additions than expected), EchoStar now has more than 10 million total subscribers to its crystal-clear video and audio service.
It seems that investors are banking heavily on the company's ability to add customers; the EchoStar shares were up more than 8% on early trading despite the company missing its earnings target by $0.05 per share. Both EchoStar and satellite rival DirecTV
Don't think for a moment that the cable service providers are going to sit still and watch the benefits of all of their digital-line upgrades float away like a loose balloon in the sky. Many cable customers have been willing to wait for the digital upgrades instead of scrapping the age-old boxes. Companies such as Comcast have slowly made the transition and are now reaping the rewards of enhanced results (even though the industry's market share is slipping).
In an era when it appears in vogue to buck the establishment, many 1960s throwbacks have been turning their backs on the tradition and giving the new guy a chance. Even many of the Baby Bells, including BellSouth
Have you switched to satellite service from cable? Tell others about your experience on the EchoStar discussion board.
Phil Wohl spent more than 12 years on Wall Street and now concentrates his writing on more fictional characters. He has no stake in any firm mentioned above.
