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| SATS > SEC Filings for SATS > Form 10-Q on 9-Nov-2009 | All Recent SEC Filings |
9-Nov-2009
Quarterly Report
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with the condensed consolidated financial statements and notes to the financial statements included elsewhere in this quarterly report. This management's discussion and analysis is intended to help provide an understanding of our financial condition, changes in financial condition and results of our operations and contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts, but rather are based on current expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections about our industry, business and future financial results. Our actual results could differ materially from the results contemplated by these forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, under the caption "Item 1A. Risk Factors."
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Overview
Effective January 1, 2008, DISH Network Corporation ("DISH Network")
completed its distribution to us (the "Spin-off") of its set-top box business
and certain infrastructure and other assets, including certain of its
satellites, uplink and satellite transmission assets, real estate and other
assets and related liabilities. We currently operate two primary business units:
(i) our "Digital Set-Top Box" business, and (ii) our "Satellite Services"
business.
"Digital Set-Top Box" Business
Our "Digital Set-Top Box" business designs, develops and distributes digital set-top boxes and related products and technology, including our Slingbox "placeshifting" technology, primarily for satellite TV service providers, telecommunication and cable companies and, with respect to Slingboxes, directly to consumers via retail outlets. Most of our digital set-top boxes are sold to DISH Network, but we also sell a significant number of digital set-top boxes to Bell TV in Canada, DISH Mexico and other international customers. As part of the Spin-off, DISH Network contributed Sling Media, Inc., a leading innovator in the digital-lifestyle space to us, to complement our existing product line. Slingbox "placeshifting" technology allows consumers to watch and control their home digital video and audio content anywhere in the world via a broadband Internet connection.
Our "Digital Set-Top Box" business also provides digital broadcast operations including satellite uplinking/downlinking, transmission services, signal processing, conditional access management and other services provided primarily to DISH Network.
We believe opportunities exist to expand our business by selling equipment and services in both the United States and international markets. As a result of our extensive experience with digital set-top boxes and digital broadcast operations, we can provide end-to-end pay TV delivery systems incorporating our satellite and backhaul capacity, customized digital set-top boxes and related components, and network design and management.
During November 2008, we entered into a joint venture for a direct-to-home, or DTH, service in Mexico known as DISH Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V., or DISH Mexico. Pursuant to these arrangements, we provide certain broadcast services and satellite capacity and sell hardware such as digital set-top boxes and related equipment to DISH Mexico. Subject to a number of conditions, including regulatory approvals and compliance with various other arrangements, we committed to provide approximately $112 million of value over an initial ten year period, of which $59 million has been satisfied in the form of cash, equipment and services, leaving $53 million remaining under this commitment. Of the
Item 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS (Continued)
remaining commitment, approximately $27 million is expected to be paid in cash and the remaining amounts may be satisfied in the form of certain services or equipment. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, we sold $6 million and $11 million, respectively, of set-top boxes and related accessories to DISH Mexico that are not related to the original commitment associated with our investment in DISH Mexico. As of September 30, 2009, amounts receivable from DISH Mexico totaled $1 million.
During June of 2009, we entered into an agreement to form a Taiwanese joint venture, for a DTH service in Taiwan and certain other targeted regions in Asia. Pursuant to these arrangements, we sell hardware such as digital set-top boxes and provide certain technical support services. Subject to a number of conditions, including regulatory approvals and entry into various other arrangements, we committed to provide $18 million of cash, of which $8 million has been deposited into an escrow account to be used for ongoing expenses until the final regulatory approvals are received, and an $18 million line of credit that the joint venture may only use to purchase set-top boxes from us. As of September 30, 2009, no amounts have been drawn on the line of credit.
Dependence on DISH Network. We currently depend on DISH Network for a substantial portion of the revenue for our "Digital Set-Top Box" business and we expect for the foreseeable future that DISH Network will continue to be the primary source of revenue for each of our businesses. Therefore, our results of operations are and will for the foreseeable future be closely linked to the performance of DISH Network's satellite pay-TV business. In addition, because the number of potential new customers for our "Digital Set-Top Box" business is small and may be limited by our common ownership and related management with DISH Network, our current customer concentration is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.
Changes in DISH Network subscriber growth could have a material adverse affect on our digital set-top box sales. In particular, weaknesses in the economy and other factors adversely affecting DISH Network, such as the decision by AT&T to terminate its distribution agreement with DISH Network effective January 31, 2009, may have an adverse impact on us. According to DISH Network's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, its relationship with AT&T accounted for approximately 17% of DISH Network's gross subscriber additions. Furthermore, to the extent that DISH Network subscriber growth decreases as a result of weakened economic conditions in the United States or otherwise, sales of our digital set-top boxes to DISH Network may decline.
The impact to us of any weakening of DISH Network subscriber growth may be offset over the near term by an increase in sales to DISH Network resulting from the upgrade of DISH Network subscribers to advanced products such as high definition ("HD") receivers, digital video recorders ("DVRs") and HD DVRs, as well as by the upgrade of DISH Network digital set-top boxes to new technologies such as MPEG-4 digital compression technology or Slingbox placeshifting technology. However, there can be no assurance that any of these factors will mitigate any weakening of subscriber growth at DISH Network. In addition, although we expect DISH Network to continue to purchase products and services from us, there can be no assurance that DISH Network will continue to purchase products and services from us in the future.
We may experience significant pressure on margins we earn on the sale of digital set-top boxes and other equipment, including on sales to DISH Network. This pressure may be due to current economic conditions, advancements in the technology and functionality of digital set-top boxes and other equipment. The margins we earn on sales are determined largely through periodic negotiations that could result in pricing reflecting, among other things, the digital set-top boxes and other equipment that best meet our customers' current sales and marketing priorities, the product and service
Item 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS (Continued)
alternatives available from other equipment suppliers, and our ability to respond to customer requirements and to differentiate ourselves from other equipment suppliers on bases other than pricing.
Our future success may also depend on the extent to which prospective customers that have been competitors of DISH Network are willing to purchase products and services from us. Many of these customers may continue to view us as a competitor as a result of common ownership and related management with DISH Network. If we do not develop relationships with new customers, we may not be able to expand our customer base and our ability to increase or even maintain our revenue will be impacted.
Additional Challenges for our "Digital Set-Top Box" Business. We believe that our best opportunities for developing potential new customers for our "Digital Set-Top Box" business over the near term lie in international markets, and we therefore expect our performance in international markets to be a significant factor in determining whether we will be able to generate revenue and income growth in future periods. However, there can be no assurance that we will be able to sustain or grow our international business. In particular, we have noticed an increase in new market entrants, primarily located in Asia, that offer low cost set-top boxes, including set-top boxes that are modeled after our products or products of our principal competitors. The entry of these new competitors may result in pricing pressure in international markets that we hope to enter. If market prices in international markets are substantially reduced by such new entrants, it may be difficult for us to make profitable sales in international markets.
Furthermore, if we do not continue to distinguish our products through distinctive, technologically advanced features and design, as well as continue to build and strengthen our brand recognition, our business could be harmed as we may not be able to effectively compete on price alone in both domestic and international markets against low cost competitors that are principally located in Asia. If we do not otherwise compete effectively, demand for our products could decline, our gross margins could decrease, we could lose market share, our revenues and earnings may decline and our growth prospects would be diminished.
The current economic downturn and tightened credit markets may cause certain suppliers that we rely on to cease operations which, in turn, may cause us to suffer disruptions to our supply chain or incur higher production costs.
Our ability to sustain or increase profitability will also depend in large part on our ability to control or reduce our costs of producing digital set-top boxes. The market for our digital set-top boxes, like other electronic products, has been characterized by regular reductions in selling prices and production costs. Therefore, we will likely be required to reduce production costs in order to maintain the margins we earn on digital set-top boxes and the profitability of our "Digital Set-Top Box" business. Our ability to reduce production costs could be impacted by the current economic conditions which could cause inflated pricing as a result of a shortage of available parts.
"Satellite Services" Business
Our satellite services segment consists principally of transponder leasing provided primarily to DISH Network, and secondarily to government entities, Internet service providers, broadcast news organizations and private enterprise customers. We also deliver our ViP-TV transport service, offering MPEG-4 encoded Internet Protocol, or IP, streams of video and audio channels to telecommunication companies and small cable operators. We began operating the "Satellite Services" business following the completion of the Spin-off using our owned and leased in-orbit satellites, multiple digital broadcast
Item 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS (Continued)
centers and other transmission assets. We are also pursuing expanding our business offerings by providing value added services such as telemetry, tracking and control services to third parties. However, there can be no assurance that we will be able to effectively compete against our competitors due to their significant resources and operating history.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 ("ARRA") has allocated $7.2 billion to expand access to broadband services. Of this amount, $2.5 billion is administered by the Rural Utilities Service ("RUS") for deployment of broadband projects in rural, unserved and underserved communities across the United States and $4.7 billion has been allocated to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration ("NTIA") of the United States Department of Commerce to fund broadband initiatives throughout the U.S, including unserved and underserved areas. During August 2009, we, both individually and jointly with other parties, filed applications for over $1.1 billion of broadband stimulus funds with the RUS and/or the NTIA. If RUS decides not to fund any of the broadband infrastructure projects that include us as an applicant, NTIA may elect to do so. If either the RUS and/or the NTIA funds any of the broadband infrastructure projects that include us as an applicant, we along with certain co-applicants in some cases, expect to use the funds to help finance project(s) to provide broadband service by satellite. We are also supporting an affiliate of DISH Network for a sustainable broadband project that, if funded, would seek to increase subscribers for broadband service. We cannot be sure that our applications will be granted, or that they will be granted on acceptable terms.
Dependence on DISH Network. We currently depend on DISH Network for a substantial portion of the revenue for our "Satellite Services" business. Therefore, our results of operations are and will for the foreseeable future be closely linked to the performance of DISH Network's satellite pay-TV business.
While we expect to continue to provide satellite services to DISH Network for the foreseeable future, its satellite capacity requirements may change for a variety of reasons, including the launch of its own additional satellites. Any termination or reduction in the services we provide to DISH Network would increase excess capacity on our satellites and require that we aggressively pursue alternative sources of revenue for this business.
During September 2009, we entered into a ten-year satellite service agreement with DISH Network for capacity on the Nimiq 5 satellite. Pursuant to this agreement, DISH Network will receive service from us on all 32 of the DBS transponders covered by our transponder contract with Telesat. DISH Network began receiving service on 16 of these DBS transponders upon service commencement of the satellite on October 10, 2009 and will receive service on the remaining 16 DBS transponders over a phase-in period that will be completed in 2012.
In addition, because the number of potential new customers for our "Satellite Services" business is small and may be limited by our relationship with DISH Network, our current customer concentration is likely to continue for the foreseeable future. Our future success may also depend on the extent to which prospective customers that have been competitors of DISH Network are willing to purchase services from us. Many of these customers may continue to view us as a competitor given the common ownership and management team we continue to share with DISH Network.
Additional Challenges for our "Satellite Services" Business. Our ability to expand revenues in the "Satellite Services" business will likely require that we displace incumbent suppliers that generally have well established business models and often benefit from long-term contracts with customers. As a result, in order to grow our "Satellite Services" business we may need to develop or otherwise acquire
Item 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS (Continued)
access to new satellite-delivered services so that we may offer customers differentiated services. In addition, as our satellite fleet ages, we will be required to evaluate replacement alternatives such as acquiring, leasing or constructing additional satellites, with or without customer commitments for capacity.
However, there can be no assurance that we would be able to develop successful alternative services or the sales and marketing expertise necessary to sell these services profitably.
Adverse Economic Conditions
Our ability to grow or maintain our business may be adversely affected by weakened global and domestic economic conditions, including wavering consumer confidence and constraints on discretionary purchasing, unemployment, tight credit markets, declines in global and domestic stock markets, falling home prices and other factors that may adversely affect the markets in which we operate. Our ability to increase our income or to generate additional revenues will depend in part on our ability to organically grow our business, identify and successfully exploit opportunities to acquire other businesses or technologies, and enter into strategic partnerships. These activities may require significant additional capital that may not be available on terms that would be attractive to us or at all. In particular, current dislocations in the credit markets, which have significantly impacted the availability and cost of financing, specifically in the leveraged finance markets, may significantly constrain our ability to obtain financing to support our growth initiatives. These developments in the credit markets may increase our cost of financing and impair our liquidity position. In addition, these developments may cause us to defer or abandon business strategies and transactions that we would otherwise pursue if financing were available on acceptable terms.
Furthermore, unfavorable events in the economy, including continued or further deterioration in the credit and equity markets could cause consumer demand for pay-TV services and consequently sales of our digital set-top boxes to DISH Network, Bell TV and other international customers to decline materially because consumers may delay purchasing decisions or reduce or reallocate their discretionary spending.
Future Capital Sources
We primarily rely on our existing cash and marketable investment securities balances, as well as cash flow generated through operations to fund our investment needs. Since we currently depend on DISH Network for a substantial portion of our revenue, our cash flow from operations depend heavily on their needs for equipment and services. As a result, there can be no assurances that we will always have positive cash flows from operations and should our cash flows turn negative, our existing cash and marketable investment securities balances may be reduced. In addition, if we are unsuccessful in overturning the District Court's ruling on Tivo's motion for contempt, we are not successful in developing and deploying potential new alternative technology and we are unable to reach a license agreement with Tivo on reasonable terms, we would be required to cease distribution of digital set-top boxes with DVR functionality. In that event, our sales of digital set-top boxes to DISH Network and others would likely significantly decrease and could even potentially cease for a period of time. Furthermore, the inability to offer DVR functionality would place us at a significant disadvantage to our competitors and make it even more difficult for us to penetrate new markets for digital set-top boxes. The adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations if the District Court's contempt order is upheld is likely to be significant.
Item 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS (Continued)
If we are successful in overturning the District Court's ruling on Tivo's motion for contempt, but unsuccessful in defending against any subsequent claim that our original alternative technology or any potential new alternative technology infringes Tivo's patent, we could be prohibited from distributing DVRs. In that event we would be at a significant disadvantage to our competitors who could continue offering DVR functionality and the adverse effect on our business could be material.
Because both we and DISH Network are defendants in the Tivo lawsuit, we and DISH Network are jointly and severally liable to Tivo for any final damages and sanctions that may be awarded by the Court. DISH Network has agreed that it is obligated under the agreements entered into in connection with the Spin-off to indemnify us for substantially all liability arising from this lawsuit. We have agreed to contribute an amount equal to our $5 million intellectual property liability limit under the Receiver Agreement. We and DISH Network have further agreed that our $5 million contribution would not exhaust our liability to DISH Network for other intellectual property claims that may arise under the Receiver Agreement. Therefore, during the second quarter of 2009, we recorded a charge included in "General and administrative expenses-DISH Network" on our Condensed Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) of $5 million to reflect this contribution. We and DISH Network also agreed that we would each be entitled to joint ownership of, and a cross-license to use, any intellectual property developed in connection with any potential new alternative technology.
Because we are jointly and severally liable with DISH Network, to the extent that DISH Network does not or is unable to pay any damages or sanctions arising from this lawsuit, we would then be liable for any portion of these damages and sanctions not paid by DISH Network. Any amounts that DISH Network may be required to pay could impair its ability to pay us and also negatively impact our future liquidity.
If we become liable for any portion of these damages or sanctions, we may be required to raise additional capital at a time and in circumstances in which we would normally not raise capital. Therefore, any capital we raise may be on terms that are unfavorable to us, which might adversely affect our financial position and results of operations and might also impair our ability to raise capital on acceptable terms in the future to fund our own operations and initiatives.
Other Risks
Our profitability is affected by our marketable investment securities accounted for at fair value, which had a fair value of $483 million and $108 million as of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. The fluctuations in fair value of these investments are recorded in "Unrealized gains (losses) on investments accounted for at fair value, net" on our Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) directly impacting our profitability. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, we recorded a $349 million gain on these investments compared to a $147 million loss for the same period in 2008. These investments are highly speculative and have experienced and continue to experience significant volatility. The fair value of these investments can be significantly impacted by the risk of adverse changes in securities markets generally, as well as risks related to the performance of the company whose securities we have invested in, their ability to obtain sufficient capital to execute their business plans, risks associated with their specific industries, and other factors.
Item 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS (Continued)
Our profitability is also affected by costs associated with our efforts to expand our sales, marketing, product development and general and administrative capabilities in all of our businesses, as well as other expenses that we incur as a separate publicly-traded company. These costs are associated with, among other things, financial reporting, information technology, complying with federal securities laws (including compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002), tax administration and human resources related functions. As we expand internationally, we may also incur additional costs to conform our digital set-top boxes to comply with local laws or local specifications and to ship our digital set-top boxes to our international customers.
EXPLANATION OF KEY METRICS AND OTHER ITEMS
Equipment revenue-DISH Network. "Equipment revenue-DISH Network" primarily includes sales of digital set-top boxes and related components to DISH Network, including Slingboxes and related hardware products.
Equipment revenue-other. "Equipment revenue-other" primarily includes sales of digital set-top boxes and related components to Bell TV, DISH Mexico and other international customers, including sales of Slingboxes and related hardware products.
Services and other revenue-DISH Network. "Services and other revenue-DISH Network" primarily includes revenue associated with satellite and transponder leasing, satellite uplinking/downlinking, signal processing, conditional access management, telemetry, tracking and control, professional services, facilities rental revenue and other services provided to DISH Network.
Services and other revenue-other. "Services and other revenue-other" primarily includes revenue associated with satellite and transponder leasing, satellite uplinking/downlinking and other services provided to customers other than DISH Network.
Cost of sales-equipment. "Cost of sales-equipment" principally includes costs associated with digital set-top boxes and related components sold to DISH Network, Bell TV, DISH Mexico and other international customers, including costs associated with Slingboxes and related hardware products.
Cost of sales-services and other. "Cost of sales-services and other" principally includes costs associated with satellite and transponder leasing, satellite uplinking/downlinking, signal processing, conditional access management, telemetry, tracking and control, professional services, facilities rental revenue, and other services.
Research and development expenses. "Research and development expenses" consist primarily of costs associated with the design and development of our digital set-top boxes, Slingboxes and related components, including among other things, salaries and consulting fees.
Selling, general and administrative expenses. "Selling, general and administrative expenses" consists primarily of selling and marketing costs and employee-related costs associated with administrative services (i.e., information systems, human resources and other services), including non-cash, stock-based compensation expense. It also includes professional fees (i.e., legal, information systems and accounting services) and other items associated with facilities and administration provided by DISH Network and other . . .
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