Dish Rises on DirecTV Merger Talk as Customer Growth Stalls

Dish Network Corp. gained after Chairman Charlie Ergen said the second-largest U.S. satellite TV company and its larger rival DirecTV should consider a merger to address a slowing pay-TV market.

Both companies “have to consider” a combination given the lack of growth remaining in the U.S. video business, Ergen, the world’s 87th wealthiest man and Dish’s founder, said during a conference call today. No deal discussions have taken place, he said.