EchoStar Corporation, the parent company of DISH Network and Sling TV, abruptly parted ways with two top executives this morning, signaling a major leadership overhaul amid a challenging pay-TV landscape. Gary Schanman, Executive Vice President and Group President of Video Services, and Ajinkya “Jinx” Joglekar, Senior Vice President of Acquisition Marketing for DISH and Sling TV, were let go by EchoStar’s leadership, sources confirmed to Cord Cutters News. The dismissals come as EchoStar, led by CEO Hamid Akhavan and Chairman Charlie Ergen, navigates forward after a failed merger with DIRECTV and grapples with subscriber losses as it switches focus to becoming a wireless company that also sells TV.
DISH declined to comment on what happened today, but an EchoStar spokesperson said, “Gary and Jinx departed the business and will be pursuing new opportunities. They built strong teams that are well positioned to serve our business and help us achieve our goals. We do not have more to share at this time.”
Schanman, a 20-year industry veteran, joined Sling TV in April 2022 as EVP and Group President, later expanding his role to oversee both DISH TV and Sling TV’s video services in July 2023. Tasked with driving market share, customer acquisition, and retention, he managed product development, media sales, marketing, and programming for an 8.03 million-subscriber base. His tenure saw Sling TV’s Freestream launch in 2023, offering 210 free channels, and a net gain of 145,000 Sling subscribers in Q3 2024, though DISH lost 188,000 satellite TV users. Previously, Schanman held senior roles at Charter Communications.
Joglekar, known as “Jinx,” served as SVP of Acquisition Marketing since 2023, after leading Sling TV’s marketing from 2022. With a background at Comcast and a degree from Temple University, he spearheaded campaigns like Sling’s 2023 “28 Days of Free TVs” promotion, boosting sign-ups. Joglekar’s departure leaves a gap in marketing strategy as Sling competes with YouTube TV, Fubo, Philo, Frndly TV, and Hulu + Live TV.
EchoStar’s decision, reportedly driven by Akhavan and Ergen, aligns with a broader restructuring as the company prepares to merge with DIRECTV, announced in 2024 to create a pay-TV giant. The merger, pending regulatory approval, aims to counter streaming’s dominance—Sling’s 2.14 million subs pale next to Netflix’s 300 million.
The firings follow a pattern of executive turnover at Sling, with Michael Schwimmer exiting in 2022. EchoStar’s $5.2 billion capital raise in 2024, aimed at its 5G network, may have tightened budgets, per The Hollywood Reporter . Schanman and Joglekar’s exits raise questions about Sling’s direction, especially as competitors like Comcast offer $55/month internet bundles and CNN pivots to digital subscriptions.
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