Today DISH announced its 2nd quarter 2023 earnings and reported that DISH and Sling TV lost 294,000 subscribers. This worked out to the company losing 3,230 subscribers every day in the 2nd quarter of 2023.
Sling TV reportedly lost 97,000, and DISH lost 197,000 subscribers. In total, DISH now has 8,904,000 pay TV customers between the two brands, down from 9,988,000 during the same period in 2022. Sling TV now has 2 million subscribers, and DISH has 6.90 million subscribers.
Many will see this as surprisingly strong results as DISH lost 552,000 TV customers in the 1st quarter of 2023. Though that number was up from the 257,000 TV subscribers, the company lost during the same period of 2022. DISH also reported it had 7.73 million wireless subscribers. In total Wireless subscribers dropped 188,000 in the 2nd quarter.
This news comes as DISH announced a deal to merge with EchoStar. This move in the end, brings the two companies back together. In 2008 EchoStar Communications was renamed to DISH Network, and EchoStar Corp was spun off into its own technology company.
Now as DISH moves to become a wireless phone company to compete with AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon, merging the companies could help it do just that. DISH reportedly needs $3 billion to meet a 2025 deadline from the FCC to offer service to 75% of Americans.
“From unconnected individuals in the most rural and remote regions of the world to the constantly evolving networks of private enterprises and government institutions, the connectivity landscape is rapidly changing,” said Hamid Akhavan, President and Chief Executive Officer of EchoStar. “As a combined company, we will offer a broad suite of robust connectivity services, using a superior portfolio of technology, spectrum, engineering, manufacturing and network management expertise. DISH shares our customer-first culture, and together we will be well positioned to further scale and accelerate our strategy.”
This all comes as DISH recently reached a deal with Amazon to promote its $25 Boost Infinite wireless plans to Amazon Prime members. This comes as DISH is now the 4th largest wireless provider in the United States behind Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile.
DISH will hold a press conference at 11 am Eastern to make a presentation on the newly combined companies.