Dish Network (DISH) agreed to disable its ad-skipping “AutoHop” technology for ABC programming as part of a deal with Walt Disney Co. (DIS) that gives the satellite pay-TV broadcaster more rights to whisk content in and out of homes via the Internet. Dish gained rights for a Web-based subscription service that will stream TV shows, sports and movies produced by Disney cable TV channels, ESPN and broadcaster ABC. The deal covers live content and
The proposed merger of Comcast (CMCSA) and Time Warner Cable (TWC), the nation’s Nos. 1 and 2 cable TV firms, sent shares of would-be suitor Charter Communications (CHTR) down Thursday, as analysts speculated that satellite broadcasters DirecTV (DTV) and Dish Network (DISH) might pursue their own merger — if regulators indeed permit cable consolidation. Comcast, which last year gained full ownership of media giant NBC Universal, offered $45
Cowen & Co. on Thursday downgraded Sprint (S) on views that the stock has limited upside even if its majority owner, Japan’s SoftBank, successfully bids for T-Mobile USA (TMUS). Analyst Colby Synesael downgraded Sprint to market perform from outperform. Synesael says it’s possible satellite broadcaster Dish Network (DISH) could bid for T-Mobile USA, not the first time the two have eyed the same merger target. Both Sprint and Dish bid for Clearwire