Dish CEO: I Don't Think 'Sling' Will Lead To Any Kind Of Cannibalization Of Our Core Business

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Although the pay TV industry is facing a severe threat from the video streaming services, one of the biggest player in that space DISH Network Corp DISH is not bothered. Instead of whining, the company launched its own streaming service ‘Sling’ with much fanfare recently.

 

Dish CEO, Joseph Clayton, was interviewed by CNBC recently, where he talked about ‘Sling’ being a growth driver and the significance of having ESPN as a partner.

 

Won’t ‘Sling’ Cannibalize Your Core Business?

 

“I don’t think so […] I am not in the 18 to 35 year old millenial age group which we are targeting, but I have five kids at home and I know they are well educated, they are mostly urban dwellers and they are not going to pay for pay TV unless I pay it for them. So, they are an ideal market that the pay TV industry is missing today. So, we don’t think it will lead to any kind of cannibalization of our core business,” Clayton said.

 

How Much Are You Paying ESPN?

 

“Obviously they are not going to prefer it, but we don’t give any particular data of what our economics are in any of our programming contracts, but suffice it to say that ESPN, the ABC family and Disney are the anchor and ESPN is the most watched station or channel in that 18 to 35 year old age group. So, we are really excited about them being the anchor.”

Clayton refuted the speculation that ESPN will be either raising rates or discontinuing the agreement if the channel gets too many subscribers on Sling by saying, “Well every different programming is quite different, but quite honestly, the more you sell, I think, the happier people are going to be. Not only for ourselves, but for our partners,” 

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Posted In: CNBCMedia
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