OKLAHOMA CITY, Jan. 8, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- Dobson Communications Corporation (Nasdaq:DCEL) today announced that gross subscriber additions, net subscriber additions and customer churn for its fourth quarter ended December 31, 2000 will be significantly improved compared to its previous guidance.
Primarily because of strong holiday sales, the Company now expects gross subscriber additions to be approximately 109,800 for the quarter, on a proportionate, pro forma basis, compared with initial guidance of 95,000 to 105,000.
Dobson's fourth quarter customer churn is expected to be approximately 2.0 percent, at the bottom of the guided range of 2.0 to 2.3 percent.
The Company expects fourth quarter net subscriber additions to be approximately 60,700, compared to Dobson's November guidance of 45,000 to 50,000. Net subscriber additions for fiscal 2000 would consequently be approximately 171,600, 16 percent higher than the 1999 total of 148,500, on a proportionate, pro forma basis; and at year-end 2000, the Company's subscriber base will total approximately 931,200 subscribers. The fourth quarter total includes Dobson's acquisition of the Georgia 1 Rural Service Area.
Dobson plans to release its fourth quarter results in mid-February.
Dobson Presentation
Dobson executives plan to present an overview of the Company's strategy at 8:30 a.m. (MT) on Tuesday, January 9, at the Salomon Smith Barney 11th Annual Global Entertainment, Media and Telecommunications Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona. Those interested in viewing the presentation online may due so by visiting the conference Web site at http://www.veracast.com/ssb2/gemt_2001/clientaccess/02202443.cfm.
The presentation will also be archived at the above site.
Dobson Communications is a leading provider of cellular phone services to rural markets in the United States. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, the rapidly growing Company owns or manages wireless operations in 19 states. For additional information on the Company and its operations, please visit its Web site at www.dobson.net.
This press release contains "forward-looking statement" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's plans, intentions and expectations. Such statements are inherently subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These risks include increased levels of competition, shortages of cellular handsets and other key equipment, restrictions on the Company's ability to finance its growth, any market changes that would significantly decrease consumer demand for wireless products, and other factors. A more extensive discussion of the risk factors that could impact these areas and the Company's overall business and financial performance can be found in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Given these concerns, investors and analysts should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.