On the Call-DirecTV CEO Larry Hunter says competition still intense, but sees fewer discounts

On the Call-DirecTV CEO Larry Hunter

DirecTV Group Inc. is in an enviable position, as one of the few pay-TV operators seeing an increase in new subscribers in the third quarter.

A partnership with AT&T Inc. to cross-market their services helped attract new customers, while its NFL Sunday Ticket package of out-of-market football games is a perennial favorite. Earnings, however, were about flat as higher costs ate into the revenue gain.

But the company still faces tough competition, with rivals offering more aggressive discounts to entice cash-strapped consumers to switch providers.

QUESTION: What are you seeing so far in the fourth quarter regarding competitive behavior relative to what you saw in the third quarter?

ANSWER: Some of our competitors have backed off slightly in the fourth quarter, but there’s still some very strong competition offered.

Dish network has a strong offer … in the third quarter that they’ve continued into the fourth and we’ve seen some pretty strong video-only offers out there as well.

But if I were to gauge it between third and fourth, I would say slightly less on the kind of promotional offers in fourth quarter versus third.