Bell Satellite TV

Bell satellite TV (in the U.S.) from three “Baby Bells” (BellSouth, Qwest Communications, SBC Communications), are offered in co-operation with the major satellite TV providers.

If you live in Canada, you can get a satellite system from www.bell.ca. Bell Canada ExpressVu satellite systems come with

a set-top digital receiver remote control 20" (51cm) Dish The deals the Baby Bells of the U.S. have for satellite TV differ from one company to the other.

As for BellSouth, they’ve inked a deal to market and distribute DirecTV's satellite service to their local phone customers.

BellSouth will market, sell, schedule equipment installation and run all billing for the joint venture.

Meanwhile, SBC has a pact with EchoStar’s Dish Network, and has invested $500 million in the company.

Also, Qwest has an agreement with EchoStar, but that agreement is not as comprehensive as the one SBC has with the company.

Bell Satellite TV – Strategy

One of the major reasons why the Bells are in a need of a strategy consisting of offering satellite TV services for their customers is that much of their services are based on traditional land-based business, which is diminishing in importance.

Although the Baby Bells are very much involved in the next generation of DSL data services (that enable, for example, transferring video services), those upgrades are in a very much higher price range than offering a satellite TV service in co-operation with the existing satellite TV providers.

There is also the emergence of cable telephony, which has increased the importance of new video services for the Baby Bells.