ITV

Tag: U-Verse

  • Q3-16: DIRECTV mitigates AT&T U-Verse TV subscriber numbers fall

    Q3-16: DIRECTV mitigates AT&T U-Verse TV subscriber numbers fall

    BENGALURU: AT&T acquired DIRECTV added 323,000 net subscribers and hence helped mitigate the company’s Entertainment and Internet Services Group (Entertainment) segment’s loss of 326,000 U-Verse subscribers for the quarter ended 30 September 2016 (Q3-16, current quarter). About 70 percent of DIRECTV net additions were consumers transitioning from U-Verse says the company. The Entertainment Group ended the quarter with 25.3 million (2.53 crore) video subscribers. Further, the company says it has added 156,000 broadband subscribers during the current quarter.

    However, the total number of video connections of the Entertainment Group were slightly lower than the 25.4 million connections in Q3-16. At September 30, 2016, Entertainment had approximately 51.0 million revenue connections, compared to 52.6 million at September 30, 2015,

    Total revenues of the segment were $12.7 billion ($1,270 crore), up 17.1 percent versus the year-earlier quarter mostly due to the acquisition of DIRECTV. Also contributing to the gain was continued growth in consumer IP services informs the company. Video and Ad sales constitute about 70 percent of the Entertainment Group’s revenue, IP Voice/Data about 19 percent legacy and other revenues the balance 11 percent.  Broadband revenues were up 5 percent in the quarter with IP broadband growing by 12 percent. AdWorks has grown to a $1.5 billion ($150 crore) annualized revenue stream with double-digit revenue growth year to date and strong margins.

    Consolidated Numbers

    AT&T’s consolidated revenues for the third quarter totaled $40.9 billion ($4,900 crore) , up 4.6 per cent versus the year-earlier period due to the July 24, 2015 acquisition of DIRECTV. Excluding the impact of the DIRECTV acquisition and foreign exchange, revenues were essentially flat, as growth in video and IP-based services mostly offset pressures from declines in wireless and legacy services. Compared with results for the third quarter of 2015, operating expenses were $34.5 billion ($3,450 crore) versus $33.2 billion ($3,320 crore); operating income was $6.4 billion ($s 640 crore) versus $5.9 billion ($590 crore) ; and operating income margin was 15.7 percent versus 15.2 percent. When adjusting for $0.14 of amortization, $0.03 in merger- and integration-related costs and $0.03 of employee-separation costs, operating income was $8.3 billion ($830 crore) versus $7.9 billion ($790 crore); and operating income margin was 20.3 percent, consistent with the year-ago quarter.

    Third-quarter net income attributable to AT&T totalled $3.3 billion ($330 crore) or $0.54 per diluted share, compared to $3.0 billion ($300 crore), or $0.50 per diluted share, in the year ago quarter. Adjusting for $0.20 of amortization, merger- and integration related costs and other expenses, earnings per diluted share was $0.74 compared to an adjusted $0.74 in the year-ago quarter.

    Time-Warner takeover

    As mentioned earlier, AT&T plans to take over Time Warner in a blockbuster $85.4 billion ($8,540 crore) that will completely change the media landscape, A Senate subcommittee responsible for competition will hold a hearing in November 2016. Media reports say that the announcement of the deal has raised concerns in the US, ‘with lawmakers, analysts and advocacy groups closely watching to see if the union, or any that follow in its wake, poses harm to consumers’ says a New York Times report.

    According to a BBC report, a spokesman for the Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has said there were “a number of questions and concerns” about the deal that regulators needed to scrutinise, but added “there’s still a lot of information that needs to come out before any conclusions should be reached”.

    The BBC report further alleges that Republican candidate Donald Trump has said that he would block the merger if he wins, because it was “too much concentration of power in the hands of too few”.

     

  • Q3-16: DIRECTV mitigates AT&T U-Verse TV subscriber numbers fall

    Q3-16: DIRECTV mitigates AT&T U-Verse TV subscriber numbers fall

    BENGALURU: AT&T acquired DIRECTV added 323,000 net subscribers and hence helped mitigate the company’s Entertainment and Internet Services Group (Entertainment) segment’s loss of 326,000 U-Verse subscribers for the quarter ended 30 September 2016 (Q3-16, current quarter). About 70 percent of DIRECTV net additions were consumers transitioning from U-Verse says the company. The Entertainment Group ended the quarter with 25.3 million (2.53 crore) video subscribers. Further, the company says it has added 156,000 broadband subscribers during the current quarter.

    However, the total number of video connections of the Entertainment Group were slightly lower than the 25.4 million connections in Q3-16. At September 30, 2016, Entertainment had approximately 51.0 million revenue connections, compared to 52.6 million at September 30, 2015,

    Total revenues of the segment were $12.7 billion ($1,270 crore), up 17.1 percent versus the year-earlier quarter mostly due to the acquisition of DIRECTV. Also contributing to the gain was continued growth in consumer IP services informs the company. Video and Ad sales constitute about 70 percent of the Entertainment Group’s revenue, IP Voice/Data about 19 percent legacy and other revenues the balance 11 percent.  Broadband revenues were up 5 percent in the quarter with IP broadband growing by 12 percent. AdWorks has grown to a $1.5 billion ($150 crore) annualized revenue stream with double-digit revenue growth year to date and strong margins.

    Consolidated Numbers

    AT&T’s consolidated revenues for the third quarter totaled $40.9 billion ($4,900 crore) , up 4.6 per cent versus the year-earlier period due to the July 24, 2015 acquisition of DIRECTV. Excluding the impact of the DIRECTV acquisition and foreign exchange, revenues were essentially flat, as growth in video and IP-based services mostly offset pressures from declines in wireless and legacy services. Compared with results for the third quarter of 2015, operating expenses were $34.5 billion ($3,450 crore) versus $33.2 billion ($3,320 crore); operating income was $6.4 billion ($s 640 crore) versus $5.9 billion ($590 crore) ; and operating income margin was 15.7 percent versus 15.2 percent. When adjusting for $0.14 of amortization, $0.03 in merger- and integration-related costs and $0.03 of employee-separation costs, operating income was $8.3 billion ($830 crore) versus $7.9 billion ($790 crore); and operating income margin was 20.3 percent, consistent with the year-ago quarter.

    Third-quarter net income attributable to AT&T totalled $3.3 billion ($330 crore) or $0.54 per diluted share, compared to $3.0 billion ($300 crore), or $0.50 per diluted share, in the year ago quarter. Adjusting for $0.20 of amortization, merger- and integration related costs and other expenses, earnings per diluted share was $0.74 compared to an adjusted $0.74 in the year-ago quarter.

    Time-Warner takeover

    As mentioned earlier, AT&T plans to take over Time Warner in a blockbuster $85.4 billion ($8,540 crore) that will completely change the media landscape, A Senate subcommittee responsible for competition will hold a hearing in November 2016. Media reports say that the announcement of the deal has raised concerns in the US, ‘with lawmakers, analysts and advocacy groups closely watching to see if the union, or any that follow in its wake, poses harm to consumers’ says a New York Times report.

    According to a BBC report, a spokesman for the Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has said there were “a number of questions and concerns” about the deal that regulators needed to scrutinise, but added “there’s still a lot of information that needs to come out before any conclusions should be reached”.

    The BBC report further alleges that Republican candidate Donald Trump has said that he would block the merger if he wins, because it was “too much concentration of power in the hands of too few”.

     

  • Q4-2015: DirecTV’s subscription numbers up, but ATT Entertainment reports lower video subscribers

    Q4-2015: DirecTV’s subscription numbers up, but ATT Entertainment reports lower video subscribers

    BENGALURU:  AT&T Inc., (ATT), claimant to the largest Pay TV services title in the world reported a net QoQ decline of 26,000 subscribers for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 (Q4-2015, current quarter) for its Entertainment Group (Entertainment). This despite the fact that its recent acquisition DirecTV reported a 1.1 percent QoQ increase (214,000 net additions) in Q4-2015 at 197.84 lakh as compared to 195.70 lakh in Q3-2015. ATT’s other Entertainment segment, the triple play U-verse (broadband internet, IP Telephony and IPTV services) reported a decline of 240,000 video subscribers in the current quarter at 56.14 lakh as compared to 58.54 lakh in the immediate trailing quarter. ATT says that its Entertainment Group focused on profitability and increasingly emphasized satellite sales, including U-verse subscribers switching to satellite.

     

    At December 31, 2015, Entertainment had approximately 522 lakh revenue connections, compared to 344 lakh at December 31, 2014, which included:  Approximately 254 lakh video connections at December 31, 2015 compared to 59 lakh at December 31, 2014. DirecTV’s satellite subscribers as of the July 24, 2015 acquisition date was 195 lakh.; Approximately 143 lakh broadband connections at December 31, 2015 compared to 144 lakh at December 31, 2014. During Q4-2015, ATT’s Entertainment added 171,000 U-verse High Speed Internet subscribers, for a total of 124 lakh at December 31, 2015. Total broadband subscribers declined by 37,000 in the quarter due in part to fewer U-verse sales promotions; Approximately 125 lakh wired voice connections at December 31, 2015 compared to 140 lakh at December 31, 2014. Voice connections include switched access lines and VoIP connections.

     

    “We now have a unique set of capabilities that positions us for growth and also gives us a strategic advantage in providing consumers and businesses the integrated mobile, video and data solutions they want,” said AT&T chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson.

     

    “Our DirecTV integration is going well, and the customer response to our new integrated mobile and entertainment offers is strong. Throughout this year, we plan to launch a variety of new video entertainment packages that give customers even more choices. We’re also seeing terrific results from our expansion into the Mexican mobile market. Our LTE network now covers 355 million people and businesses, and in the quarter we had 2.8 million wireless net additions,” Stephenson added.

     

    ATT’s Entertainment Group (Entertainment) segment includes the results of the US satellite-based operations acquired in July 2015 through the acquisition of DirectTV as well as broadband and wired voice services to residential customers in the US Entertainment revenues for the fourth quarter Q4-2015 were $13.0 billion, more than double the year-ago quarter due to the acquisition of DirecTV as well as strong growth in consumer IP broadband and video, which more than offset lower revenues from legacy voice and data products. Q- 2015 Entertainment operating expenses totalled $11.5 billion compared to $5.9 billion in the fourth quarter of 2014, largely due to the acquisition of DirecTV. The Entertainment operating margin was 11.1 percent, compared to (5.3) percent in the year-earlier quarter with satellite and IP revenue growth and cost efficiencies largely offsetting programming content cost pressure and declines in legacy services.

  • Q4-2015: DirecTV’s subscription numbers up, but ATT Entertainment reports lower video subscribers

    Q4-2015: DirecTV’s subscription numbers up, but ATT Entertainment reports lower video subscribers

    BENGALURU:  AT&T Inc., (ATT), claimant to the largest Pay TV services title in the world reported a net QoQ decline of 26,000 subscribers for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 (Q4-2015, current quarter) for its Entertainment Group (Entertainment). This despite the fact that its recent acquisition DirecTV reported a 1.1 percent QoQ increase (214,000 net additions) in Q4-2015 at 197.84 lakh as compared to 195.70 lakh in Q3-2015. ATT’s other Entertainment segment, the triple play U-verse (broadband internet, IP Telephony and IPTV services) reported a decline of 240,000 video subscribers in the current quarter at 56.14 lakh as compared to 58.54 lakh in the immediate trailing quarter. ATT says that its Entertainment Group focused on profitability and increasingly emphasized satellite sales, including U-verse subscribers switching to satellite.

     

    At December 31, 2015, Entertainment had approximately 522 lakh revenue connections, compared to 344 lakh at December 31, 2014, which included:  Approximately 254 lakh video connections at December 31, 2015 compared to 59 lakh at December 31, 2014. DirecTV’s satellite subscribers as of the July 24, 2015 acquisition date was 195 lakh.; Approximately 143 lakh broadband connections at December 31, 2015 compared to 144 lakh at December 31, 2014. During Q4-2015, ATT’s Entertainment added 171,000 U-verse High Speed Internet subscribers, for a total of 124 lakh at December 31, 2015. Total broadband subscribers declined by 37,000 in the quarter due in part to fewer U-verse sales promotions; Approximately 125 lakh wired voice connections at December 31, 2015 compared to 140 lakh at December 31, 2014. Voice connections include switched access lines and VoIP connections.

     

    “We now have a unique set of capabilities that positions us for growth and also gives us a strategic advantage in providing consumers and businesses the integrated mobile, video and data solutions they want,” said AT&T chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson.

     

    “Our DirecTV integration is going well, and the customer response to our new integrated mobile and entertainment offers is strong. Throughout this year, we plan to launch a variety of new video entertainment packages that give customers even more choices. We’re also seeing terrific results from our expansion into the Mexican mobile market. Our LTE network now covers 355 million people and businesses, and in the quarter we had 2.8 million wireless net additions,” Stephenson added.

     

    ATT’s Entertainment Group (Entertainment) segment includes the results of the US satellite-based operations acquired in July 2015 through the acquisition of DirectTV as well as broadband and wired voice services to residential customers in the US Entertainment revenues for the fourth quarter Q4-2015 were $13.0 billion, more than double the year-ago quarter due to the acquisition of DirecTV as well as strong growth in consumer IP broadband and video, which more than offset lower revenues from legacy voice and data products. Q- 2015 Entertainment operating expenses totalled $11.5 billion compared to $5.9 billion in the fourth quarter of 2014, largely due to the acquisition of DirecTV. The Entertainment operating margin was 11.1 percent, compared to (5.3) percent in the year-earlier quarter with satellite and IP revenue growth and cost efficiencies largely offsetting programming content cost pressure and declines in legacy services.