DirecTV said this week that it will acquire Dish TV and Sling TV from its owner EchoStar in a debt exchange transaction that includes a payment of $1, plus the assumption of approximately $9.8 billion in debt.
The prospect of a DirecTV-Dish combo has long been rumored, with headlines about reported talks popping up over the years. And the two almost merged more than two decades ago but the Federal Communications Commission blocked their owners’ then-$18.5 billion deal, citing antitrust concerns.
The pay-for-TV market has shifted significantly since. As more and more consumers tune into online streaming giants, demand for more traditional satellite continues to shrink. And, although high-profile acquisitions have proven to be particularly tough under the Biden-Harris administration, that may make regulators more inclined to approve DirecTV and Dish’s pairing this time around.
DirecTV said that the transaction will help it bring smaller content packages to consumer at lower prices and essentially provide a one-stop shopping experience for entertainment programming.
It’s hoping this will appeal to those who have left satellite video services for streaming. The company said that combined, DirecTV and Dish have collectively lost 63% of their satellite customers since 2016.
This story is from the October 05, 2024 edition of Techlife News.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 05, 2024 edition of Techlife News.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
ELON MUSK'S X PARTNERS WITH VISA ON PAYMENT SERVICE IN AN EFFORT TO BECOME AN 'EVERYTHING APP'
X is teaming up with Visa to soon offer a system for real-time payments on the social media platform — signaling some progress in a yearslong vision from billionaire owner Elon Musk to create an “everything app.”
BIG TECH WANTS TO PLUG DATA CENTERS RIGHT INTO POWER PLANTS. UTILITIES SAY IT'S NOT FAIR
Looking for a quick fix for their fast-growing electricity diets, tech giants are increasingly looking to strike deals with power plant owners to plug in directly, avoiding a potentially longer and more expensive process of hooking into a fraying electric grid that serves everyone else.
ARE WE ALL ALIENS? NASA'S RETURNED ASTEROID SAMPLES HOLD THE INGREDIENTS OF LIFE FROM A WATERY WORLD
Asteroid samples fetched by NASA hold not only the pristine building blocks for life but also the salty remains of an ancient water world, scientists reported this week.
AS SMALL BUSINESSES FACE FIRE DEVASTATION AND TRY TO GET BACK ON THEIR FEET, A VARIETY OF AID EXISTS
The fires in California have been devastating for many small business owners and others who saw their homes, businesses or livelihoods go up in smoke.
AI-ASSISTED WORKS CAN GET COPYRIGHT WITH ENOUGH HUMAN CREATIVITY, SAYS US COPYRIGHT OFFICE
Artists can copyright works they made with the help of artificial intelligence, according to a new report by the U.S. Copyright Office that could help clear the way for the use of AI tools in Hollywood, the music industry and other creative fields.
TESLA 04 RESULTS FALL SHORT OF FORECASTS. MUSK SEES UNSUPERVISED FULL SELF-DRIVING IN TEXAS IN JUNE
Tesla's fourth-quarter adjusted profits rose slightly amid a big push to sell its electric vehicles with offers of zero financing and other incentives, but the results still fell short of Wall Street forecasts.
TRUMP SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER ON DEVELOPING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE 'FREE FROM IDEOLOGICAL BIAS'
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on artificial intelligence that will revoke past government policies his order says \"act as barriers to American AI innovation.\"
AMAZON SUES STATE AGENCY TO BLOCK RELEASE OF COMPANY RECORDS TO BEZOS-OWNED WASHINGTON POST
Amazon is suing a Washington state agency to prevent the release of some company materials to The Washington Post, the newspaper which is owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
WHAT IS DEEPSEEK, THE CHINESE AI COMPANY UPENDING THE STOCK MARKET?
A frenzy over an artificial intelligence chatbot made by Chinese tech startup DeepSeek was upending stock markets Monday and fueling debates over the economic and geopolitical competition between the U.S. and China in developing Al technology.
TRUMP SAYS MICROSOFT IS ONE OF THE COMPANIES EYEING TIKTOK
President Donald Trump said this week that Microsoft is among the U.S. companies looking to take control of TikTok to help the popular app avert an effective ban that could kick-in in April.
