DISH, DirecTV Team-up With Qwest

[Gregg Lengling]

Qwest Communications signed strategic marketing agreements with both DBS providers - DirecTV and EchoStar - on Monday.

With its DirecTV alliance, Qwest will make satellite TV services available to its customers in single-family homes in Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz., and Seattle. Its marketing agreement with EchoStar will make DISH Network satellite TV services available to Qwest customers in single-family homes in Colorado and Nebraska.

The marketing agreements represent the first step in the process to bundle video with Qwest's other communications services, including local phone, DSL, long distance and wireless. In addition, Qwest and DirecTV extended their agreement for the DBS giant to be the exclusive satellite TV provider for multiple dwelling unit (MDU) properties in those territories where Qwest provides video programming services.

The company expects to rollout DirecTV and DISH Network offerings to more markets throughout the remainder of 2003 and into 2004.