AT&T To Buy DIRECTV for $67 Billion

[bobvick]

It will be interesting to see if providers like CenturyLink and Verizon keep offering DirecTV as a "bundle" option now that they are a subsidiary of AT&T, or if they will partner with Dish, or drop offering DBS as a bundle product in areas where they don't have TV service all together.

 

[Juan]

It will be interesting to see if providers like CenturyLink and Verizon keep offering DirecTV as a "bundle" option now that they are a subsidiary of AT&T, or if they will partner with Dish, or drop offering DBS as a bundle product in areas where they don't have TV service all together.

Verizon is buddy buddy with att

 

[bobvick]

Verizon is buddy buddy with att

Buddy buddy, in what way?

 

[Juan]

Buddy buddy, in what way?

Stuff like this
http://www.cnet.com/news/verizon-at-t-say-their-voice-over-lte-services-will-work-together/

 

[whitewolf8214]

FCC confirms approval of AT&T-DirecTV deal
Jul 24 2015, 14:34 ET | About: AT&T Inc. (T) | By: Jason Aycock, SA News Editor

The FCC makes it official, confirming its approval of AT&T's (NYSE:T) $49B deal for DirecTV (NASDAQTV).
AT&T shares are up 2.6% today in the wake of yesterday's earnings release, and reports that the merger had the requisite majority approval from FCC commissioners. DirecTV is up 2.2%.
http://seekingalpha.com/news/2656625-fcc-confirms-approval-of-at-and-t-directv-deal#email_link

 

[Poke]

FCC Formally Approves AT&T DirecTV Merger, With Weak Conditions

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/...TT-DirecTV-Merger-With-Weak-Conditions-134611

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

It's OFFICIAL.

Just moments ago, the merger of AT&T and DIRECTV became official
.
We’re now a company with capabilities that are unmatched in the United States. AT&T now is the largest pay TV provider in the U.S. and the world, providing service to more than 26 million customers in the United States and more than 19 million customers in Latin America, including Mexico and the Caribbean. Additionally, we have more than 132 million wireless subscribers and connections in the U.S. and Mexico; offer 4G LTE mobile coverage to nearly 310 million people in the U.S.; cover 57 million U.S. customer locations with high-speed Internet; and have nearly 16 million subscribers to our high-speed Internet service.

Add in our coast-to-coast retail stores and top-rated customer service and you can see how we are positioned to redefine our industry and offer TV everywhere like never before.

This is a milestone moment, and I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunities that are ahead for all of us.

We’ll share more information about our integration plans in the coming days. In the meantime, please watch this brief message.

Monday at 1 p.m. Eastern/10 a.m. Pacific, we’ll have our first town hall broadcast as a new company. Please look for an E-News to follow with more details.

Thank you for all you do. I look forward to celebrating this exciting milestone with you on Monday.

Randall

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Farewell Mike! It was great spending time with you this week!

This message from Mike White is for all DIRECTV employees.

Today we celebrate a transformative milestone with the completion of the AT&T and DIRECTV merger.

This is a tribute to your contributions to building and delivering a premium video experience that touches the lives of nearly 40 million customers across the Americas.
It’s also a tribute to AT&T Chairman Randall Stephenson. When we began exploring this union, we saw vast potential for something bigger than the sum of two great companies. It’s been my privilege to work with Randall and his leadership team.

With the close of this historic deal, I will be retiring from DIRECTV. The new entity that DIRECTV will become as part of AT&T will be in excellent hands, and you’ll hear more details very soon.

I’m fortunate to have been a part of DIRECTV’s most recent chapter. Over the last several years, each of you inspired me with your passion for our customers, your deep knowledge of our business and your constant drive to lead change in our industry.

We’ve transformed the customer experience and created innovative products to make video entertainment more delightful and more accessible anytime, anywhere. Since 2009, we added nearly 15 million customers, increased revenues by 50% and grew earnings per share five-fold.

With all that success, I’m equally proud of accolades earned for our ongoing commitment to the communities we serve. Honors like the Civic 50 and ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year don’t come easily.

Your hard work has made this possible and you will continue to make history. Now part of the AT&T family, DIRECTV will have even more growth opportunities with simple, integrated packages of video, mobile and broadband services. The organization will be better positioned than ever to keep winning in the marketplace by offering customers more choice and more convenience. And the focus will continue on giving back to the community and improving sustainability.

Thank you for making my DIRECTV experience so special. It’s been my privilege and I’ve learned so much from working with you. I look forward to watching you transform what TV means to the world.

Mike

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

http://about.att.com/newsroom/att_dtv_faq.html#general

 

[mikew]

Sad day in the entertainment industry. Looks like I will need to switch to either cable or Dish.

 

[Aridon]

I'm not surprised at the approval. It will be very interesting to see what AT&T's long term plans are for TV and Internet. Sending TV and Internet over copper can't be their end game if they want to be competitive. I imagine the Directv purchase will serve as a cash cow and over time start placing last mile fiber to residences and businesses.

 

[Jimbo]

Verizon is buddy buddy with att

I wouldn't say they are buddy buddy, looks to me like they are using one another to get what they need ... I don 't see them doing other things together, just doesn't make sense ...

 

[Juan]

I wouldn't say they are buddy buddy, looks to me like they are using one another to get what they need ... I don 't see them doing other things together, just doesn't make sense ...

well they have a common ancestor...

 

[whitewolf8214]

AT&T details closure of DirecTV deal
Jul 24 2015, 16:00 ET | About: AT&T Inc. (T) | By: Jason Aycock, SA News Editor
With official FCC approval in hand, AT&T (T +1.1%) has closed its deal for DirecTV (DTV +1.3%), making it the country's largest pay TV provider with more than 26M total subscribers.Comcast has nearly 23M subscribers in the U.S. AT&T also now boasts more than 19M TV customers in Latin America.DirecTV shareholders received 1.892 shares of AT&T common stock and $28.50 in cash per DirecTV share owned.Current DirecTV customers won't see any difference, AT&T says, as integration happens over the coming months. It plans to roll out new promotions for bundled services in the coming weeks.The company's named John Stankey its CEO of AT&T Entertainment & Internet Services, leading the combined Home Solutions operations, as DirecTV Chairman and CEO Mike White will retire.FCC-mandated conditions include offering fiber-to-the-premises to 12.5M locations within four years; offering gigabit service to any school or library in the all-fiber footprint; offering low-income discounts in the wireline footprint; no favorable treatment for video under data caps; submitting interconnection deals to the FCC.AT&T now expects by year's end its revenue streams will be (from highest to lowest): Business Solutions (both wireless and wireline); Entertainment & Internet; Consumer Mobility; and International Mobility and Video. http://seekingalpha.com/news/2656835-at-and-t-details-closure-of-directv-deal#email_link

 

[whitewolf8214]

Best wishes to Mr.White on his retirement.Wonder what his retirement package will be for closing the deal and retiring!

 

[jcrandall]

USA today has an interview with John Stankey who will be leading the division of AT&T that will house DirecTV (along with home services):
http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/...7/24/att-stankey-talks-directv-deal/30643283/

Good article, not a lot of new info but some good summary of what customers can expect.

 

[Aridon]

Best wishes to Mr.White on his retirement.Wonder what his retirement package will be for closing the deal and retiring!

He is a smart dude. Pay TV is on a downward trend, Directv is peaking and there is little room for upside here in the USA. Getting out now, securing a ton of value for share holders and making it AT&T's problem is a shrewd decision. One of the few that deserves what he gets.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

I am happy with Mr. Stankey. I have worked with him on some other AT&T projects. I also got to breifly speak to him this week at Revolution.

 

[Bodo Fenrirsson]

Well,I have Directv & AT&T 6.0 Fast DSL,so hopefully I can finally combine the two bills together.

 

[DS0816]

So if anyone wants to leave ATTDTV and wants referral certificates for Dish, message me and I'll give you some.

I don't trust Dish Network for programming, because there seems to be a much greater frequency, compared to DirecTV, for losing (or almost losing) programming. the contractual issues. just this week, my Detroit, Michigan NBC affiliate, WDIV, was a close call. If I was to leave DirecTV, my best alternative is actually Comcast. And the only service I want from Comcast is what I have now: high-speed Internet.


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