• by Wayne Friedman , August 9, 2021

Dish Network continued to post gains for its virtual pay TV service, Sling TV, while its satellite Dish business had declines in its second-quarter reporting period. Revenue inched up 2% for its pay TV business.

Sling TV added 65,000 subscribers, now totaling 2.44 million. At same time, Dish TV subscriber declines accelerated -- losing 132,000, now totaling 8.55 million.

Overall, the company lost 67,000 net pay TV subscribers in the second quarter, versus 96,000 in last year's quarter.

Dish overall revenues grew  $4.49 billion in the period, with net income growing to $681.5 million from $480.4 million.

Rising results were due to Dish acquisition of Boost Mobile. Dish Network closed its $1.4 billion Boost Mobile deal for around 9 million customers with T-Mobile last year.

Dish pay TV revenues were up 2.1% to $3.25 billion in the period. Wireless business -- including Boost Mobile -- was $1.2 billion up from $1.3 million in the second quarter a year before.

Operating income for its pay TV businesses fell 19% to $826.9 million, with its wireless businesses now showing a $79.8 million in operating income versus a $57.9 million operating loss the year before period. Dish now has 8.9 million retail wireless subscribers.