AT&T Aquires DirecTV

[heeman]

Very Interesting..................

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/t-aim...1cHV0BHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2JmMQR2dGlkA1ZJUDI4Nl8x

 

[Srvy]

yes I read this yesterday on the web and my first though was what it means for NFL Sunday Ticket.

 

[Towen7]

Nothing. The Sunday Ticket is in place for DTV subscribers. It us up for renegotiation though. From that perspective the NFL is only interested in two things; viewers and by extension money. Combining the companies adds an additional 6M video subscribers plus access to one of the nations largest internet and wireless networks.

 

[Batman]

T7 any thoughts on FCC approval? Is it a slam dunk, etc...

 

[Towen7]

T7 any thoughts on FCC approval? Is it a slam dunk, etc...

I have zero inside knowledge but I think it's safe to assument that the guys that do, the ones that committed to spending close to $50B, are confident that they can get approval. That said I'm sure there was a high level of confidence for the Tmobile deal too.

 

[Akula]

I'd honestly expect it to be approved. AT&T's Uverse TV is hardly a monolithic enough service for this to make a meaningful difference when it comes to competition in the market. Most consumers will still have at least two other choices for traditional pay TV- their cable company and Dish Network. That's not even counting regular OTA broadcasts and internet based services.

I'm a little interested/concerned as to what this will do to existing DirecTV services; while I'm generally pleased with DirecTV, if AT&T mucks about with it too much I will be inclined to finally give in to Charter and bundle in TV there too (even though I'd miss some services DirecTV provides that Charter doesn't).

 

[Towen7]

:text-link:

This article says that AT&T may walk from the deal if Sunday Ticket isn't locked-up for a few years.

I'm required to make it clear that while I am an employee of AT&T I do not represent them here.

 

[Botch]

I'm all for the acquisition! :banana-dance:

I mean, after all, just look at how much more pleasant, and inexpensive, airline travel has become as we get fewer and larger carriers!! :text-bravo: [/sarcasm]

:doh:

 

[MatthewB]

I just wish they'd give us ala cart programming. I'm seriously thinking about cutting the cord soon.

 

[Rope]

And then there was one.

Rope

 

[Barney]

Wonder what AT&T plans for all those satellites ?