elecom operator AT&T (T.N), opens new tab and its joint-venture partner TPG (TPG.O), opens new tab are in early-stage talks to merge their DirecTV satellite TV service with EchoStar (SATS.O), opens new tab owned Dish, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters on Friday.
The two companies first attempted to merge back in 2002 when the U.S. Justice Department blocked the tie-up. The combined entity would create the largest pay-TV service provider in the U.S. at about 16 million subscribers, if the talks are successful.
The potential deal would likely attract antitrust scrutiny again although it might be able to clear regulatory hurdles this time as the industry has expanded substantially since then and DirecTV and Dish now compete against the likes of Comcast (CMCSA.O), opens new tab, Charter (CHTR.O), opens new tab, Amazon Prime, YouTube TV, and Netflix (NFLX.O), opens new tab.
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Honestly I reads like my internal monologue when I’m reading a Wikipedia article
It’s crazy to me that people are still watching TV and tuning into things like new episodes of The Simpsons. My wife and I just drove out to Vancouver last week and stayed in a few hotels along the way. Using the TVs at each one (with a living, breathing TV Guide Channel) felt a little surreal. We were supposed to have sex the one night and instead I fell asleep watching the Paralympics.
Many Americans: “those dishes still work?”
Also: “people still pay for TV?”
I finally, after years of talking about it, took down the dish left on my roof from the previous owners
So after they merge, who owns the business — AT&T?
