AT&T agrees to buy DirecTV in $48.5 billion cash and stock deal

Chicago Tribune ^ | 05/18/2014 | Mike Stone

[SeekAndFind]

DirecTV, the No. 1 U.S. satellite TV operator, said on Sunday it has agreed to sell itself to AT&T for $48.5 billion, in the second mega-deal to shake up the U.S. television landscape this year.

The deal with Dallas-based AT&T, which has some TV and broadband services, is the latest in a string of big takeovers the wireless operator has considered. Those include an abortive bid for T-Mobile USA in 2011, as well as a potential takeover of Vodafone Plc that receded as a possibility after Comcast Corp surprised the industry this year with a $45 billion bid for Time Warner Cable Inc.

[reformedliberal]

I’m not.

If it means I start buying up DVDs in thrift stores or just go back to reading dead trees, I cannot possibly afford those kind of entertainment costs. Especially not on top of increased utility costs and taxes.

I know there are people who will pay $1k/month for phone service,internet and TV, but it isn’t anyone I know.

[Bratch]

I guess I find this purchase odd since AT&T is pushing their u-verse service. (at least around here)

I guess it could be part of a long range plan to put DirectTV out of business and drive customers to u-verse?

U Verse isn't available in a lot of areas.

IIRC, you need a speed of around 10 MBPS in order to receive HD broadcasts. So if you aren't near a fiber-optic booster you're out of luck. And then there's the rural community.

Direct TV will fill that gap nicely for AT&t.

[DoughtyOne]

I don't know how AT&T could afford it, what with the trillions they seem to drop badgering me day in and day out to go U-Verse.

No, for the 4,873rd time!


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[SamAdams76]

So the company voted the worst company to work for two years running is getting acquired by a company with the worst customer service.

This ought to be fun to watch.

[GeronL]

As if the leftist media didn’t have enough ownership concentration as it was.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

This is a very good move, in my book,

Should greatly improve competition.

[minnesota_bound]

Yeah! Less competition and higher prices!

[snippy_about_it]

Bflr

[Cringing Negativism Network]

I don’t know.

This would seem to bring AT&T into competition (for the first time) with cable television.

I believe this may actually increase competition.

Maybe I’m wrong, but I think this will improve competition, myself.

[max americana]

“What are you using these days? I mostly watch Veetle”

I don’t use Veetle because they install crap on your system and anything that allows an exe file just to watch shows is a non-no. My neighbor removed his DirecTV and phone so he’s 100% pc, saving hin $100 every month. You want ANY free movi or series? Alluc.to. Watch ANY sport in the world, including boxing. Myp2p..

Any person who pays for cable or satellite need to have their heads examined...

[max americana]

“How are you getting live sports? NBA, NFL and NCAA football? That is the only reason i have cable. ??”

Dude, you are getting ripped. Try MYp2p.ec (they keep changing the ending dot suffix for countries around the world to keep ahead of the MPAA)...I never use TV for my sports. Heck, my friends watch the Pacquiao fight on it LOL

[Shadowstrike]

If you live in the middle of nowhere then yeah, you pay for it.

[publius911]

Add this to the Comcast merger of Time Warner Cable, and what will you get $200 cable bills real soon.

No I won't.
Unless these monopolies somehow persuade the Feds or the States to make cable or satellite TV service mandatory.

For most people in most places, use of the increasingly efficient digital signal antennas is the permanent reasonable-priced solution.

I don't see an individual TV licence, to receive over-the-air signals, as the Brits have, ever getting traction in the U.S.

[berdie]

I live in a rural area. Since I am all about saving money...I listened to the u-verse sales speech for what seemed to be hours, lol. When they asked who my cable/dish provider I told them. After waiting forever for the rep to check u-verse t.v. in my area, I was told...no it’s not available yet.

Then they offered to bundle DirectTV with the rest of the u-verse package they had offered.

I guess there was some affiliation between the two companies and now AT&T will get the whole profit.

[berdie]

I talked to an AT&T rep not long ago about going to u-verse. He said they were trying to steer customers to u-verse.

Myself, if things get much more expensive...I’m pulling the plug on all of it. :)

[VerySadAmerican]

Comcast owns the other satellite TV service. So, there are now two huge companies that own phone services, internet services, cable services and satellite services. And I guarantee there is collusion between the two. I guess the anti trust laws of yesteryear no longer apply.

[I am Richard Brandon]

THAT SUCKS

DirecTV has the best customer assistance phone system and AT&T has the worst.