Street, it is a good day for DISH. But we still haven't heard from the FCC. Last I heard, they had set a limit of 1 full CONUS slot per DBS entrant (in January of 1996, at the time of the 110 slot auction). The news from the DOJ never says that DISH WON'T have to give up 119 to get 110, it just says they approve 110.
Right now, the whole situation leaves me with a lot of questions, because if DISH has to give up 119 to start using 110 they will have to repoint over 2m customers (by the time this gets done). Even at $50 per repoint, that's a $100m price tag. And can they sell 119, which they won in a lottery? Or do they have to surrender it? Who would buy it? About the only company that would make sense would be Primestar, which already has 2m subs of their on and the balance of the 119 freqs for assemblege purposes - would the DOJ would block them again (minus Rupert)? If so, who would get into this business at this late date and start with sub number 1? It would take deep pockets, that's for sure.
I'm happy for DISH here, but it is not clear that they can get the FCC to reverse a public policy statement. Of course, you can't put anything past them after all they've accomplished so far...
Regards,
NOEL |
