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
The sell-off in emerging market currencies on Friday drove down shares of Vodafone (VOD), Telefonica (TEF), America Movil (AMX), VimpelCom (VIP), satellite TV broadcaster DirecTV Group (DTV) and Latin American e-commerce firm MercadoLibre (MELI), as well as local telecom companies. DirecTV stock was down more than 2% in morning trading in the stock market today. DirecTV has a big Latin American business. U.S. shares of U.K.-based Vodafone also
DirecTV Group (DTV) could start delivering its pay-TV programming over the Web, as well as beam content to satellite dishes, speculates Citigroup, which says DirecTV could unveil such a plan at its investors day on Thursday. Moving to Internet streaming via broadband networks would lower DirecTV’s operating costs and boost free cash flow, says Citigroup. DirecTV, however, doesn’t sell broadband Internet services itself. So any Web-based service