AT&T To Stop Offering DirecTV In Late 1Q

[Richard King]

http://custom.marketwatch.com/custom/tdameritrade-com/html-story.asp?guid={65764964-fd79-44db-928f-458049262d5f}
In a major blow to DirecTV Group Inc. (DTV), AT&T Inc. (T) said it will stop offering DirecTV services toward the end of the first quarter. More....


This was pretty much expected.

[tomcrown1]

Well I guess my signature is going to come true

[Richard King]

Not for a while since they are both taking part in the same spectrum auction they can't even talk about a merger.

[Mike D-CO5]

From what I read on other sites today, ATT will invest heavily in U-verse, its own service. Add to that both DISH and ATT will bid on the same spectrum and that limits both companies from taking about mergers or acquisitions. I don't think we will see any buyout of DISH anytime soon. The longer it takes in the next year to do a merger or buyout , the less chance of it ever happening. Especially when the democrats get into office in 2009. THey will NOT be business friendly and they hate monopolies . This is why there was so much talk of a merger or buyout for the next year : 2008. This was the business interpetation not a political statement.

[compubit]

I suspect if AT&T does get the Dish Programming, AT&T will focus the Dish on areas where they don't offer U-Verse (like mine - Verizon territory).

My parents got U-Verse about 4 months ago (and didn't tell me until Thanksgiving). They're happy with the video choices (multiple TVs, whereas Dish was only on the primary TV), boxes already support HDTV - with PVR (just change the cable and the display resolution), and they have high-speed internet. (And I ended up with their old 510... ;-) ). Were I shopping today in a U-Verse area, it'd be tough between Dish/DirecTV and U-Verse (though I'd lean toward Dish, since U-Verse only has the big 4 nets)...

Jim

[phrelin]

I suspect if AT&T does get the Dish Programming, AT&T will focus the Dish on areas where they don't offer U-Verse (like mine - Verizon territory).
And mine - AT&T territory - where the don't even offer DSL.