11-06-01, 12:06 PM
(Mod Note. Now that the DOJ is finished with Microsoft looks like they need something to do)
DOJ to Review EchoStar-DirecTV
By Ted Hearn
Multichannel News
11/6/2001 10:47:00 AM
The Department of Justice -- instead of the Federal Trade Commission -- will review the proposed merger between EchoStar Communications Corp. and DirecTV Inc., a DOJ official said Tuesday.
The decision in favor of the DOJ wasn't a big surprise because it has reviewed past direct-broadcast satellite merger proposals.
In 1998, the DOJ scuttled a deal that would have allowed PrimeStar Inc. -- the medium-power DBS carrier owned by major cable operators -- to purchase a key DBS license from News Corp. and MCI Communications Corp.
The $25.8 billion DBS merger, announced Oct. 29, also needs the approval of the Federal Communications Commission. FCC chairman Michael Powell has already established a team of officials to review the deal.
Last week it was unclear whether the DOJ or the FTC would review the EchoStar-DirecTV deal. On Tuesday, Lawrence Frankel, acting chief of the DOJ’s antitrust telecom task force, said the DOJ has been selected to conduct the review.
DOJ to Review EchoStar-DirecTV
By Ted Hearn
Multichannel News
11/6/2001 10:47:00 AM
The Department of Justice -- instead of the Federal Trade Commission -- will review the proposed merger between EchoStar Communications Corp. and DirecTV Inc., a DOJ official said Tuesday.
The decision in favor of the DOJ wasn't a big surprise because it has reviewed past direct-broadcast satellite merger proposals.
In 1998, the DOJ scuttled a deal that would have allowed PrimeStar Inc. -- the medium-power DBS carrier owned by major cable operators -- to purchase a key DBS license from News Corp. and MCI Communications Corp.
The $25.8 billion DBS merger, announced Oct. 29, also needs the approval of the Federal Communications Commission. FCC chairman Michael Powell has already established a team of officials to review the deal.
Last week it was unclear whether the DOJ or the FTC would review the EchoStar-DirecTV deal. On Tuesday, Lawrence Frankel, acting chief of the DOJ’s antitrust telecom task force, said the DOJ has been selected to conduct the review.