Has Rupert gone "Daffy"?? Yes I believe so...!
UPDATE:
DirecTV Group Inc. said on Feb. 7 fourth-quarter earnings more than doubled as the satellite television operator's subscriber base grew and it changed its accounting for set-top boxes. The company said net income surged to $356 million or 29 cents per share, in the three months ended Dec. 31 from $121 million, or 9 cents per share, in the year-ago period. Fourth quarter revenues increased 16 percent to $4.18 billion and operating profit before depreciation and amortization more than doubled to $915 million compared to last year’s 4Q.
....That's what I'm talkin' about! Why dump a money machine to get 16% back from Liberty Media? Strange thinking by my standards....
October 2006 Article:
Ok, I admit this isn't about satellite internet......but it's pretty interesting stuff if you have followed the NewsCorp rise over the last decade or so. Rupert Murdoch has built a powerful media company with newspapers, TV stations and satellite TV at the core of it all. Three years ago he bought all of the useful Hughes Corporation assets...DirecTV (satellite TV) & DirecWay (satellite internet). Then he turned around and sold off the DirecWay internet business to concentrate on the TV by satellite business?...Well, maybe not....
Rumors have been flying for about 4 months or so that he was going to sell out the DirecTV Group to John Malone's, Liberty Media, so he could get them out of his hair (they own between 17- 19% of NewsCorp). Actually, it's more of a trade of assets deal to circumvent a bunch of taxes....only about 2 billion in cash might change hands when all is said and done.....IF it is actually done. Both parties have been pretty quiet for several weeks now. Maybe Rupert has changed his mind?? Who knows, but with satellite TV kickin' some pretty good cable TV ass right now, I surely don't know why he's letting go of a money machine......
On the other hand, if I knew how Murdoch thinks, maybe I'd be a billionaire too!
The obsession all the big boys in this business have with the "Triple Play" and "Quadruple Play", where all of your communications billing comes from one company, seems to be completely over emphasized. I really don't think savy consumers care if they have a single bill......most are smart enough to do some shopping around and pay bills over the internet anyway....."So What", if you have to push the "Enter button" two or even three times instead of once to pay your Phone, TV, Internet & voip bills...especially if it saves you money!! As an example, I'm personally saving $50.00 per month by buying "a la carte".
DirecTV Group Inc. said on Feb. 7 fourth-quarter earnings more than doubled as the satellite television operator's subscriber base grew and it changed its accounting for set-top boxes. The company said net income surged to $356 million or 29 cents per share, in the three months ended Dec. 31 from $121 million, or 9 cents per share, in the year-ago period. Fourth quarter revenues increased 16 percent to $4.18 billion and operating profit before depreciation and amortization more than doubled to $915 million compared to last year’s 4Q.
....That's what I'm talkin' about! Why dump a money machine to get 16% back from Liberty Media? Strange thinking by my standards....
October 2006 Article:
Ok, I admit this isn't about satellite internet......but it's pretty interesting stuff if you have followed the NewsCorp rise over the last decade or so. Rupert Murdoch has built a powerful media company with newspapers, TV stations and satellite TV at the core of it all. Three years ago he bought all of the useful Hughes Corporation assets...DirecTV (satellite TV) & DirecWay (satellite internet). Then he turned around and sold off the DirecWay internet business to concentrate on the TV by satellite business?...Well, maybe not....
Rumors have been flying for about 4 months or so that he was going to sell out the DirecTV Group to John Malone's, Liberty Media, so he could get them out of his hair (they own between 17- 19% of NewsCorp). Actually, it's more of a trade of assets deal to circumvent a bunch of taxes....only about 2 billion in cash might change hands when all is said and done.....IF it is actually done. Both parties have been pretty quiet for several weeks now. Maybe Rupert has changed his mind?? Who knows, but with satellite TV kickin' some pretty good cable TV ass right now, I surely don't know why he's letting go of a money machine......
On the other hand, if I knew how Murdoch thinks, maybe I'd be a billionaire too!
The obsession all the big boys in this business have with the "Triple Play" and "Quadruple Play", where all of your communications billing comes from one company, seems to be completely over emphasized. I really don't think savy consumers care if they have a single bill......most are smart enough to do some shopping around and pay bills over the internet anyway....."So What", if you have to push the "Enter button" two or even three times instead of once to pay your Phone, TV, Internet & voip bills...especially if it saves you money!! As an example, I'm personally saving $50.00 per month by buying "a la carte".
posted by Randy Scott at 8:12 AM
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