DISH Network Reports First Quarter 2013 Financial Results

Thursday, May 9th, 2013
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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — DISH Network Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) today reported revenue totaling $3.56 billion for the quarter ending March 31, 2013 compared to $3.58 billion for the corresponding period in 2012. The decline was driven by reductions in our Blockbuster segment. During these same periods, subscriber-related revenue for our DISH segment increased from $3.22 billion to $3.35 billion, or 4.0 percent.

Net income attributable to DISH Network totaled $216 million for the quarter ending March 31, 2013, compared to $360 million from the year-ago quarter. The decrease in year-over-year net income was primarily due to higher subscriber-related expenses driven by increased programming and subscriber acquisition costs. Additionally, results from the first quarter 2012 were favorably impacted by a non-cash gain of $99 million related to the conversion of certain DBSD North America notes.

“We have been pleased with the market’s response to our Hopper® with Sling® roll out, despite headwinds from our first price increase in two years,” said Joseph P. Clayton, DISH president and CEO. “Broadband sales are encouraging, especially given that almost all of our dishNET™ customers have bundled with our pay-TV service.”

DISH added about 654,000 gross new pay-TV subscribers compared to approximately 673,000 gross new pay-TV subscribers in the prior year’s first quarter. Net subscribers grew by approximately 36,000 in the first quarter. The company closed the first quarter with 14.092 million pay-TV subscribers compared to 14.071 million pay-TV subscribers at the end of first quarter 2012.

Pay-TV ARPU for the first quarter totaled $78.54, an improvement over the first quarter 2012 pay-TV ARPU of $76.24. Pay-TV subscriber churn rate was 1.47 percent versus 1.35 percent for first quarter 2012.

DISH also added about 66,000 net broadband subscribers in the first quarter, compared to the addition of approximately 6,000 broadband subscribers in the year-ago period.

Detailed financial data and other information are available in DISH Network’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2013, filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission.