Never count EarthLink out. EarthLink, still the nation's fourth largest ISP with 5.3 million subscribers, is now branching out into the satellite TV business through marketing alliances with both DirecTV and EchoStar.

Alan Breznick, Cable/Video Practice Leader, Light Reading

February 21, 2006

1 Min Read
EarthLink Teams Up with DirecTV & EchoStar

Never count EarthLink out. EarthLink, still the nation's fourth largest ISP with 5.3 million subscribers, is now branching out into the satellite TV business through marketing alliances with both DirecTV and EchoStar. EarthLink announced the two marketing pacts separately on Mon. The Atlanta-based ISP said it will start offering each DBS service as part of bundled packages in "select" markets by the end of the first quarter. It did not disclose which markets or reveal its pricing strategy. But EarthLink later explained that it will promote DirecTV packages in the markets where AT&T is selling EchoStar services. Likewise, it will promote EchoStar in the markets where Verizon, BellSouth and Qwest are pushing DirecTV's packages. The moves come at a time when the two satellite TV services, in a time of much slower growth, are depending much more on the phone companies to sell their packages. In the fourth quarter of 2005, for instance, Bell South, Verizon and Qwest combined to account for more than 140,000 new DirecTV customers, or about 70% of the 200,000 customers that the DBS leader garnered.

About the Author(s)

Alan Breznick

Cable/Video Practice Leader, Light Reading

Alan Breznick is a business editor and research analyst who has tracked the cable, broadband and video markets like an over-bred bloodhound for more than 20 years.

As a senior analyst at Light Reading's research arm, Heavy Reading, for six years, Alan authored numerous reports, columns, white papers and case studies, moderated dozens of webinars, and organized and hosted more than 15 -- count 'em --regional conferences on cable, broadband and IPTV technology topics. And all this while maintaining a summer job as an ostrich wrangler.

Before that, he was the founding editor of Light Reading Cable, transforming a monthly newsletter into a daily website. Prior to joining Light Reading, Alan was a broadband analyst for Kinetic Strategies and a contributing analyst for One Touch Intelligence.

He is based in the Toronto area, though is New York born and bred. Just ask, and he will take you on a power-walking tour of Manhattan, pointing out the tourist hotspots and the places that make up his personal timeline: The bench where he smoked his first pipe; the alley where he won his first fist fight. That kind of thing.

Subscribe and receive the latest news from the industry.
Join 62,000+ members. Yes it's completely free.

You May Also Like