MyMomsBox
06-12-2006, 01:38 PM
By Anthony Massucci
June 9 (Bloomberg) -- DirecTV Group Inc. and EchoStar
Communications Corp., the top two U.S. satellite television
broadcasters, agreed to sell high-speed Internet services to
compete with Web products offered by rivals.
DirecTV, the No. 1 satellite service with 15.4 million
customers, and EchoStar, No. 2 with 12.3 million, both will
offer the service using technology provided by closely held
WildBlue Communications Inc. for five years, the companies said
in statements today. Terms were not disclosed.
By adding Internet connectivity, the satellite companies
will match more closely the range of video, Web and phone
services sold by rival cable-TV and telephone companies such as
Comcast Corp. and Verizon Communications Inc. DirecTV and
EchoStar will sell the Web service to existing video customers
and residents in rural areas and in cities targeted by WildBlue.
EchoStar will begin offering the service later this year,
the Englewood, Colorado-based company said in its statement.
Prices for the service will be announced later, EchoStar said.
Shares of El Segundo, California-based DirecTV rose 8 cents
to $17.29 at 4 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite
trading. Englewood, Colorado-based EchoStar's shares gained 20
cents to $30.44 in Nasdaq Stock Market composite trading.
Spokesman Robert Mercer at DirecTV and EchoStar spokeswoman
Heather Black both had no comment when reached by telephone.
``We are available nationwide,'' said Joanne Dant a
spokeswoman for WildBlue. ``For the most part, we target small
cities, rural, but you could get it in a big city.''
On its Web site, WildBlue says its service is available in
most of the U.S. and costs from $49.95 to $79.95 a month, plus a
$299 equipment charge. Greenwood Village, Colorado-based
WildBlue said last month that AT&T Inc. had agreed to offer the
service to its customers.
--Editor: Bunker
June 9 (Bloomberg) -- DirecTV Group Inc. and EchoStar
Communications Corp., the top two U.S. satellite television
broadcasters, agreed to sell high-speed Internet services to
compete with Web products offered by rivals.
DirecTV, the No. 1 satellite service with 15.4 million
customers, and EchoStar, No. 2 with 12.3 million, both will
offer the service using technology provided by closely held
WildBlue Communications Inc. for five years, the companies said
in statements today. Terms were not disclosed.
By adding Internet connectivity, the satellite companies
will match more closely the range of video, Web and phone
services sold by rival cable-TV and telephone companies such as
Comcast Corp. and Verizon Communications Inc. DirecTV and
EchoStar will sell the Web service to existing video customers
and residents in rural areas and in cities targeted by WildBlue.
EchoStar will begin offering the service later this year,
the Englewood, Colorado-based company said in its statement.
Prices for the service will be announced later, EchoStar said.
Shares of El Segundo, California-based DirecTV rose 8 cents
to $17.29 at 4 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite
trading. Englewood, Colorado-based EchoStar's shares gained 20
cents to $30.44 in Nasdaq Stock Market composite trading.
Spokesman Robert Mercer at DirecTV and EchoStar spokeswoman
Heather Black both had no comment when reached by telephone.
``We are available nationwide,'' said Joanne Dant a
spokeswoman for WildBlue. ``For the most part, we target small
cities, rural, but you could get it in a big city.''
On its Web site, WildBlue says its service is available in
most of the U.S. and costs from $49.95 to $79.95 a month, plus a
$299 equipment charge. Greenwood Village, Colorado-based
WildBlue said last month that AT&T Inc. had agreed to offer the
service to its customers.
--Editor: Bunker