AT&T hears an EchoStar

[jakesnake3037]

Just a bit of news that might be of interest if it ever happens:
News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch will continue to be at the forefront of the major media giants' push into new media. But his short attention span will begin to get the better of him as his last pet project — DirecTV Group Inc., the nation's leading satellite provider, which he purchased two years ago — begins to struggle in the face of cable's superior bundle of products. Murdoch will consider taking a run at DirecTV's chief rival — EchoStar Communications Corp., operator of Dish Network — to increase his capacity for providing video enhancements such as high-definition TV.
But he will remain on the sidelines when phone giant AT&T Inc. (formerly SBC Communications) expresses interest. In a bid to provide television in addition to phone and high-speed Internet service, AT&T will abort its high-stakes gambit to wire the country and will buy EchoStar for $20 billion instead.
IMHO- I don't think that the FCC would let Murdoch own D* and E*, but you never know!!!

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Thanks, this has been reported here for over a week now.

Would be interesting to see if it happens.

 

[CJPC]

Heh, ya they denied E*'s D* buyout before, if they approve in the reverse, talk about a change

Though the satellite space would be hellova interesting, a 12 lnb'd dish picking up 99, 101, 103, 105, 110, 119, 121 and 129 (well, 8 lnb's )

If only...

 

[Stargazer]

One feedhorn would probably pickup 2-3 satellites if they are spaced close enough together.

 

[jakesnake3037]

Thanks, this has been reported here for over a week now.

Would be interesting to see if it happens.

I'm not trying to be an a**, but I see hundreds of posts on the same topic everyday, and they don't get comments like that...LOL

And honestly, I did lots of searches on the posts and I did not see anything about this!!

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Yeah I know but I am trying to group things into one thread.

Orginazation was one of my resolutions and so far I have not been good at it.

 

[jakesnake3037]

NO Problem..just giving some sass...lol

You guys do an excellent job here, so keep up the good work!!!

 

[avsfan33]

My wife, who works for E*, was told today there is an employee meeting tommorow pertaining to a special announcement....the 2 rumors are either E* got to 12 million subscribers (a big goal of theirs) or that they are being bought.

 

[RandallA]

Oh boy! Something major is going on besides the announcement of more HD channels at CES.

 

[Bob Haller]

12 million subs, they are really close

 

[Chrisc490]

it would actually be congress and the SEC that would disallow Murdoch from purchasing E* as it would fall under fair trade and anti monopoly legislation rather than FCC guidelines. They did not allow E* to purchase D* prior to Murdoch's purchase, so why would they then allow this? Now AT&T purchasing E*... that's interesting.

Just a bit of news that might be of interest if it ever happens:
News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch will continue to be at the forefront of the major media giants' push into new media. But his short attention span will begin to get the better of him as his last pet project — DirecTV Group Inc., the nation's leading satellite provider, which he purchased two years ago — begins to struggle in the face of cable's superior bundle of products. Murdoch will consider taking a run at DirecTV's chief rival — EchoStar Communications Corp., operator of Dish Network — to increase his capacity for providing video enhancements such as high-definition TV.
But he will remain on the sidelines when phone giant AT&T Inc. (formerly SBC Communications) expresses interest. In a bid to provide television in addition to phone and high-speed Internet service, AT&T will abort its high-stakes gambit to wire the country and will buy EchoStar for $20 billion instead.
IMHO- I don't think that the FCC would let Murdoch own D* and E*, but you never know!!!

 

[Juan]

it would actually be congress and the SEC that would disallow Murdoch from purchasing E* as it would fall under fair trade and anti monopoly legislation rather than FCC guidelines. They did not allow E* to purchase D* prior to Murdoch's purchase, so why would they then allow this? Now AT&T purchasing E*... that's interesting.

Because Murdoch is a Republican and Ergen is a Democrat!!

 

[MikeD-C05]

Maybe it is both ; that Dish finally reached 12 million customers and that AT & T has bought Dish.

 

[Sarang]

Juan pay attention. Gore and Enron. They paid Gore. Money talks regardless of party affliation though Murdoch is Bush's baby.

 

[RBBrittain]

Huh? I thought Enron paid Bush...

 

[Stargazer]

The rumor about the DVR fee increase was true, maybe this will be true as well.

 

[jbcheshire]

My wife, who works for E*, was told today there is an employee meeting tommorow pertaining to a special announcement....the 2 rumors are either E* got to 12 million subscribers (a big goal of theirs) or that they are being bought.

When is the meeting for this today?
Any news yet from your wife???

 

[jrbdmb]

Maybe *rumor* or *heresay* should go on in the thread title.

 

[avsfan33]

When is the meeting for this today?
Any news yet from your wife???

Had their meeting. just announcing 12 million subs.

 

[mike123abc]

Hmm... Last time AT&T bought cable (yeah I know this is really SBC in disguise) they spent billions to upgrade the system and ended up giving up... Maybe we will get a bunch of new satellites built... E1,2,3,4 and 8 could all use a replacement (E8 is transmitting ok but seems to be losing control/thrusters hard to say if it is going to break down more or not).

It would be great if they would build a new spot for 119 along the lines of E10 to boost spot coverage for more LiL HD.

Not to mention they need 3 new satellites for the Ku-Aux band.

On the other hand they could save some $$ at Echostar by using all the AT&T fiber for backhauls of the LiL stations.