Dish Network lost 10,000 net subscribers in the quarter through June, which was smaller than analysts predicted in a typically weak quarter for pay-TV operators.
Dish disclosed the figure in a filing about a bond offering. It ended the quarter with 14.06 million subscribers in the U.S. The results for the quarter reflect consumer reaction to an ad campaign Dish began in May touting its commercial-skipping DVR, the Hopper.
Nomura analyst Mike McCormack said the loss was smaller than his estimate for a loss of 60,000 subscribers, and it was also an improvement over the 135,000 subscribers it lost in the same period a year ago.
Canaccord Genuity analyst Tom Eagan had expected a loss of 87,000 subscribers.
“Improving customer results appear to confirm that the company continues to turn around its pay-TV operations,” Eagan wrote in a research note.
The results did not reflect an ongoing dispute with AMC Networks, which has resulted in a blackout of AMC to Dish subscribers since July 1.
Dish shares rose 80 cents, or 2.8 percent, to $29.64 in afternoon trading.
