DISH, the parent company of the live TV streaming service Sling TV, is merging with EchoStar. With this deal, the EchoStar team will take control of the combined company.
This reunites the two companies after they split in 2008 so DISH could focus on pay TV and EchoStar could concentrate on satellite and networking. The merger will help DISH, which aspires to become a major wireless player able to compete with AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. DISH, laden with debt, needs additional cash flow from EchoStar to fund the build out of its wireless network and is required to offer service to 75% of Americans by 2025.
So, what does this mean for Sling TV? Today, I will try to answer this question as best as I can.
If you are a Sling TV customer, should you be concerned?
DISH has slowly been shifting focus to 5G and wireless services. It has been speculated that this move is to help DISH complete the build out of its 5G network as it aims to take on Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. And, this step to build a wireless network does not mean DISH is walking away from TV. In fact, DISH recently made multiple improvements to both its satellite and streaming services.
The future of Sling TV seems unchanged as the companies continue to move forward with new leadership. What that means in the long run is unknown, but TV is still the main revenue generator for DISH, making it unlikely that DISH would walk away anytime soon.
DISH seems to be looking to diversify the company as cord cutting continues to hit it hard. This merger is one more step in making sure DISH will survive in a cord cutting world.