Whether or not EchoStar buys DirecTV, you shouldn't buy EchoStar. EchoStar Corporation (SATS 5.29%) stock jumped 6.8% through 10 a.m. ET Monday after Bloomberg reported over the weekend that the satellite TV and cellphone company (EchoStar owns both DISH and Boost Mobile) is in talks to merge with AT&T's (T 2.17%) DirecTV. As the news agency reported, a successful merger would create "the largest pay-TV provider in the US." What Bloomberg said about DISH and DirecTV Caveats abound. Discussions between AT&T ...

The iPhone 16 lineup is available to pre-order starting on Friday, September 13. Boost Mobile is the only carrier to offer $1,000 off the iPhone 16 lineup with no trade-in required. Boost Mobile service is now available through Apple Stores locations and Apple Store online. Boost Mobile customers can trade in an eligible iPhone through Apple Stores and apple.com and receive $180-$650 additional credits. LITTLETON, Colo., Sept. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Boost Mobile, the newest nationwide carrier, will offer ...

No contracts or trade-in required. Experience Boost Mobile's 5G network, risk-free. Available for up to 5 lines at BoostMobile.com. LITTLETON, Colo., Sept. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Boost Mobile, the newest nationwide wireless carrier, is launching a limited-time offer – one FREE year of service on Boost Mobile's $25 Unlimited plan. When new or existing customers purchase an eligible 5G phone, including the latest Apple and Samsung devices, at full price on BoostMobile.com, they will receive a free year of se ...

EchoStar Corporation's (SATS) subsidiaries, Hughes Network Systems and Boost Mobile, jointly demonstrated optimized, multi-transport network management for the U.S. Navy. The demonstration, conducted earlier this year, evaluated remote network orchestration, wide area network (WAN) resiliency and secure Radio Access Network (RAN) sharing between standalone Private 5G networks at the U.S. Navy Air Station in Whidbey Island, WA, and a base in Hawaii. The demo established that the EchoStar Private 5G ORAN netw ...

Standalone 5G Network with enterprise management and control ensure Primary Alternate Contingency Emergency (PACE) planning for warfighter communications GERMANTOWN, Md., Aug. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hughes Network Systems and Boost Mobile, EchoStar (Nasdaq: SATS) companies, successfully demonstrated optimized, multi-transport network management for the U.S. Navy. The demonstration, which took place earlier this year, tested remote network orchestration, wide area network (WAN) resiliency, and secure Radio ...

Multi-year partnership and launch of moto g 5G Coach Prime bring innovation and inspiration to customers and CU students, alumni and fans. LITTLETON, Colo., Aug. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Boost Mobile, the newest nationwide wireless carrier, is now the official wireless provider for the University of Colorado. With this announcement, Boost Mobile is also releasing the Boost-exclusive moto g 5G Coach Prime, the latest premium device developed in partnership with Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders, renowned Pro Footb ...

EchoStar Corporation's (SATS) Hughes Network Systems LLC recently achieved a milestone of shipping more than 5,000 HL1120W electronically steerable antenna (ESA) Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) terminals, underscoring its leadership in delivering top-tier, enterprise-class satellite terminals for the Eutelsat OneWeb LEO constellation. The HL1120W is a "low-profile, full-duplex" terminal that boasts a built-in modem and utilizes a phased array antenna (that has no moving parts). The terminals are produced at a new Hug ...

Global Research and Evidence Lab 13 August 2024 EchoStar Corporation Churn better than expected; Nov maturity in focus In active discussions ahead of November maturity We are updating our estimates following 2Q results, which incl. better metrics (TV sub losses lower; wireless adds positive ex-ACP) but sustained revenue/EBITDA declines. Mgmt indicated it is in constructive discussions w/ funding sources to raise add'l capital ahead of its Nov' 24 debt maturity (~$2B). While visibility is limited, we believe ...

EchoStar Corporation (SATS) reported a second-quarter 2024 non-GAAP loss of 76 cents per share against earnings of 69 cents in the prior-year quarter. The bottom line was wider than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 37 cents by 105.4%. Revenues in the quarter totaled $3.96 billion, down 9% year over year. The top line missed the consensus mark by 0.6%. Net subscriber losses in Pay-TV, Retail Wireless and Broadband and satellite services led to the downfall. Segmental Details In the reported quarter, ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics - Revenue for Q2 2024 was $3.95 billion, down 9% year-over-year, primarily due to subscriber declines across all lines of business [10] - OIBDA was $442 million, down $181 million year-over-year, driven by increased operating costs and decreased margins from fewer subscribers [10] - Free cash flow was negative $191 million, primarily due to $450 million in cash interest payments, but improved by $360 million year-over-year due to decreased capital spending [10] - Cash and cash equivalents plus marketable securities totaled $521 million at the end of Q2 2024 [9] Business Line Performance Pay-TV - Ended Q2 with approximately 8.1 million customers, with improved churn rates and ARPU growth of over 4% [12] - DISH TV SAC (Subscriber Acquisition Cost) was significantly lower compared to Q2 2023, driven by increased marketing efficiency [12] - DISH Connected product rollout continued, contributing to ARPU gains [13] - Hospitality and senior living segments saw growth, with 1.35 million hotel rooms and over 300,000 active units in nursing care and assisted living facilities [13] - Sling TV added 78,000 subscribers, reaching approximately 2 million, with improved customer experience and product performance [15] Broadband and Satellite Services - HughesNet consumer business expanded subscriber acquisition by 14% year-over-year, supported by the Jupiter 3 satellite [16] - HughesNet Enterprise business is growing, with expectations to surpass consumer revenues this year [17] - Hughes Managed LEO business shipped over 5,000 user terminals, with positive feedback and increased demand [17] - Significant orders were received in the enterprise business, including partnerships with TCI, Türksat, Delta Airlines, and Gogo Business Aviation [18] Wireless - Boost Mobile rebranding efforts led to a unified prepaid and postpaid experience, with a 30-day money-back guarantee [19] - Ended Q2 with approximately 7.3 million subscribers, adding 32,000 net retail wireless subscribers excluding ACP losses [21] - Churn rate improved to 2.93%, down 35.5% year-over-year, with ARPU increasing due to higher-quality subscribers [22] - Boost Mobile's 5G network now reaches over 200 million Americans for voice and 250 million for mobile broadband [24] - On-net traffic is accelerating, with third-party benchmarking showing competitive network performance in key markets [25] Market Performance - The company is focused on integrating operations and driving synergies across Pay-TV, wireless, and broadband segments [6] - The Liberty Puerto Rico transaction received approval and is expected to close within 30 days [8] - The company is working to refinance $2 billion of debt maturing in November 2024, with constructive discussions ongoing [9] Strategic Direction and Industry Competition - The company is focused on operational efficiency, cost management, and innovation, particularly in its Open RAN wireless network [6] - Boost Mobile's pivot to a unified digital experience and new marketing campaigns aim to increase market share in the wireless sector [19] - The company is transitioning to owner's economics in the wireless business, with a focus on profitable growth and operational efficiencies [20] - The network deployment is progressing, with significant milestones met and plans to meet future FCC requirements [27] Management Commentary on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management is optimistic about the progress made in the first half of 2024, particularly in Pay-TV and wireless, with improved ARPU and reduced churn [29] - The company is focused on maintaining liquidity and addressing the $2 billion debt maturity in November 2024 [9] - Management expects to achieve positive net adds in retail wireless for the full year, excluding ACP losses [46] - The company is confident in its ability to meet FCC build-out requirements for 2025, with 90% of the carrying value of spectrum licenses already covered [27] Other Important Information - The company is not considering selling its spectrum assets and is focused on using them as collateral for refinancing [62] - The company is working to improve device compatibility for its 5G network, with most new Android devices and iPhone 15 and newer models being compatible [50] - CapEx for 2024 is expected to be roughly half of 2023 levels, with increased spending anticipated in 2025 to meet FCC requirements [52] Q&A Session Summary Ric Prentiss (Raymond James) - Asked about the timeline for refinancing and the availability of unencumbered spectrum [31] - Management confirmed that the company has sufficient cash to meet obligations until the debt maturity and is working on refinancing options [32] - The company has significant unencumbered spectrum that can be used as collateral [34] - Management did not provide specific guidance on when the wireless business will achieve positive EBITDA but expressed optimism about the progress made [35] - No immediate updates on 5G private networks, but the company is participating in early deployments and sees potential in the market [37][38] Shipra Pandey (Bank of America) - Asked about the company's remaining collateral and the impact of legal liabilities on refinancing discussions [41] - Management emphasized that the spectrum assets are unencumbered and can be used as collateral, with constructive discussions ongoing [42] - The company is focused on maximizing value and addressing liquidity issues without damaging the business [43] Sebastiano Petti (JPMorgan) - Asked about the path to positive net adds in retail wireless and the impact of device compatibility on network traffic [45] - Management confirmed expectations for positive net adds in retail wireless for the full year, excluding ACP losses [46] - Device compatibility is improving, with most new Android devices and iPhone 15 and newer models being compatible with the 5G network [50] - CapEx is expected to increase in 2025 to meet FCC build-out requirements [52] Walter Piecyk (LightShed) - Asked about the company's spectrum coverage and the potential for selling spectrum [55] - Management clarified that 90% of the carrying value of spectrum licenses is covered, with the remaining 10% requiring additional financing [57] - The company is not considering selling spectrum and is focused on using it as collateral for refinancing [61] - Management also discussed friction points in wireless gross adds, including distribution and device unlocking issues [68][70] Jonathan Chaplin (New Street) - Asked about the impact of the lawsuit on refinancing discussions and the potential for disruptive pricing in the wireless market [72] - Management stated that the lawsuit is not hindering refinancing discussions and that the company is focused on fair competition in the wireless market [73][75] - The company is not planning to disrupt the market with aggressive pricing but is focused on providing value to customers [74] Marilyn Pereira (Bank of America) - Asked about working capital trends and seasonality [79] - Management explained that working capital is influenced by seasonality and timing of payments, with expectations for slight improvements by year-end [80][81]