EchoStar plans to pursue international direct-to-home (DTH) opportunities,...

EchoStar plans to pursue international direct-to-home (DTH) opportunities, continue going after video and broadband possibilities and focus on international growth, a Citi Research note said (http://citi.us/1eqJT3L). The note recounts a presentation this week by David Rayner, EchoStar chief financial officer, at the Global Internet, Media and Telecommunications Conference in Las Vegas. EchoStar is pleased with Hughes broadband subscriber growth, the note said. Gross subscriber additions were split 50-50 between wholesale and retail, it said. Most consumers opt for the lower-level 10 Mbps service plan and the customers are somewhat price-sensitive, it said. On the failed attempt at a joint venture with Vivendi’s GVT to offer DTH service in Brazil (CD Dec 16 p20), Rayner said Vivendi “was the one that walked away from the deal.” EchoStar “could look to different economic models from the 50-50 JV model but it is unlikely to accept a deal whereby the partner does not hold some economic interest,” it said. Hughes is targeting a 2016 launch of EchoStar 19, the note said.