AT&T’s proposed acquisition of satellite-TV broadcaster DirecTV Group could spur Comcast to bid for T-Mobile US in order to compete better with AT&T in mobile video services, speculates UBS analyst John Hodulik in a research report. Federal regulators will likely approve AT&T’s (T) $48.5 billion, mostly stock purchase of DirecTV Group (DTV), analysts say. Combined, AT&T-DirecTV would serve nearly 26 million pay-TV customers. That would be fewer
The National Football League could split its NFL Sunday Ticket between DirecTV Group (DTV), which now has the rights, and Google’s YouTube or another Internet video service provider, says Moody’s Investor Service in a report. AT&T (T) on Sunday announced an agreement to buy satellite broadcaster DirecTV for $48.5 billion, but the terms give it the right to walk away if the NFL package isn’t renewed. DirecTV’s $4 billion, four-year deal lapses
If AT&T’s pending purchase of satellite broadcaster DirecTV closes, it’ll square off with longtime ally America Movil in Latin America’s pay-TV market. Observers also speculate that competition between AT&T (T) and America Movil (AMX) could heat up in the U.S. and Latin American wireless phone markets as well. AT&T, which late Sunday announced an agreement to buy DirecTV (DTV) for $48.5 billion, plans to sell its stake in America Movil to fund the