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Dish Network ( DISH ) stock fell after the satellite broadcaster reported swinging to a Q4 loss, with its pay-TV subscriber numbers again falling but online Sling customers growing. Englewood, Colo.-based Dish on Thursday released full-year 2015 earnings. It did not break out Q4 financial metrics in its earnings release, though that could be determined by comparing full-year with nine-month results three months earlier. Dish Network stock was down 3.6% in early afternoon trading in the stock market today . The satellite TV broadcaster lost 12,000 pay-TV customers in the December quarter, estimated MoffettNathanson, based on nine-month financial results released in November. The Q4 subscriber loss was in line with analysts’ estimates. Dish Network combines satellite TV subscriber data with its online video Sling TV service. MoffettNathanson estimates Dish Network added 109,000 Sling customers in Q4 but lost 121,000 satellite TV subscribers. It had lost 63,000 pay-TV customers in the year-earlier period. MoffettNathanson estimates Dish Network had 503,000 Sling customers at the end of 2015. Dish Network has amassed nearly 80 MHz of radio spectrum, aiming to move into the mobile video business or find a wireless network partner. A partnership with Verizon Communications ( VZ ), or possibly T-Mobile ( TMUS ), has long been speculated, with chatter on the topic running hot and cold. In Q3, however, Dish surrendered airwaves from a 2015 auction after the Federal Communications Commission ruled its bidding partners were ineligible for small-business discounts. In 2015, operating income was negatively impacted by FCC auction expense of $516 million and an asset impairment charge of $123 million, which hit Q4 results. Dish Network reported a Q4 loss of 27 cents per share, including an impairment charge of $123 million, compared with an 88-cent profit in the year-earlier period. Analysts had modeled EPS of 12 cents. Revenue rose 3% to $3.78 billion, topping estimates of $3.74 billion. Scalper1 News
Scalper1 News