Steve Mehs
11-26-02, 05:19 AM
News Corp.'s Rupert Murdoch may have said he's not talking with DirecTV about acquiring the satellite TV business. And DirecTV and its parent Hughes have said they're interested only in a merger with EchoStar.
But the British press said bankers for both companies are talking about the possibility that Murdoch's media giant may take a second run at DirecTV.
The British newspaper The Observer, quoting industry sources, said News Corp.'s financial advisors J.P. Morgan and Lehman Brothers recently held talks in New York City with DirecTV advisors Merrill Lynch and Credit Suisse First Boston about a deal. The observer article said there are no direct talks between News Corp. and DirecTV, but that could change in the next few weeks.
In recent weeks, Murdoch has said he hasn't held any discussions with Hughes and DirecTV about an acquisition of the satellite TV business. And he has also said News Corp. would tread carefully around any deal to acquire Hughes and DirecTV.
News Corp. is surfacing as the likely buyer of DirecTV after EchoStar's proposed merger with its satellite TV rival ran into regulatory opposition in Washington, D.C.
From SkyReport (http://www.skyreport.com/skyreport/nov2002/112602.shtm#two) (Used with Permission)
But the British press said bankers for both companies are talking about the possibility that Murdoch's media giant may take a second run at DirecTV.
The British newspaper The Observer, quoting industry sources, said News Corp.'s financial advisors J.P. Morgan and Lehman Brothers recently held talks in New York City with DirecTV advisors Merrill Lynch and Credit Suisse First Boston about a deal. The observer article said there are no direct talks between News Corp. and DirecTV, but that could change in the next few weeks.
In recent weeks, Murdoch has said he hasn't held any discussions with Hughes and DirecTV about an acquisition of the satellite TV business. And he has also said News Corp. would tread carefully around any deal to acquire Hughes and DirecTV.
News Corp. is surfacing as the likely buyer of DirecTV after EchoStar's proposed merger with its satellite TV rival ran into regulatory opposition in Washington, D.C.
From SkyReport (http://www.skyreport.com/skyreport/nov2002/112602.shtm#two) (Used with Permission)