DirecTV-DIsh merger talk…again

[Mediafrog+]

Here we go again: https://nypost.com/2022/01/11/directv-dish-in-merger-talks-again-despite-past-antitrust-concerns/

I’ll believe it when I see it. But both services have lost around 40% of their subscribers over the past five years, so perhaps the climate is more favorable for getting this approved.

 

[Don CT]

How would this work exactly. Different equipment, different contracts. They can't just merge the two systems into one happy family.

 

[K6JHU]

Think Sirius/XM.

 

[Don CT]

Think Sirius/XM.

Audio is a lot easier to blend than video. Plus they didn't have the same amount of channels that DTV/Dish has.

 

[K6JHU]

Two different systems. Two different business philosophies. Still managed one company out of it.

 

[Don CT]

Two different systems. Two different business philosophies. Still managed one company out of it.

They basicity turned the audio streams into identical simulcasts. Can they do that with TV feeds.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

It might be easier for DTV and Dish than Siruis and XM. SiriusXM couldn't very easily discontinue one of the services without angering customers who used in-car tuners (obsoleting those tuners), so they've had the costs of duplicate satellites in space for many years now.

If DTV and Dish wanted to cut over to one system, they probably could do so, with new set top boxes.

 

[Don CT]

It might be easier for DTV and Dish than Siruis and XM. SiriusXM couldn't very easily discontinue one of the services without angering customers who used in-car tuners (obsoleting those tuners), so they've had the costs of duplicate satellites in space for many years now.

If DTV and Dish wanted to cut over to one system, they probably could do so, with new set top boxes.

Wouldn't you need new dishes on each location?

 

[Megatron]

I'll believe it when I see it I don't see this passing mustard the government denied it 3 or 2 decades ago.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

Dish, DirecTV will ‘melt away’ without merger, Ergen says

Dish Network Chairman Charlie Ergen has once again weighed in a potential satellite TV merger between Dish and DirecTV. | Dish Network Chairman Charlie Ergen has once again weighed in a potential satellite TV merger between Dish and DirecTV.

www.fiercevideo.com

Here is more on the Dish-Directv talks.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

https://www.nexttv.com/news/dish-and-directv-have-a-window-to-finally-merge-after-next-weeks-midterm-elections-ergen-says

Here is more on the Dish/Directv talks.

The 20-year merger dalliance between satellite-TV companies DirecTV and Dish Network has a window to finally consummate following completion of the 2022 midterm election cycle next week, Dish chairman Charlie Ergen told equity analysts and business journalists Wednesday during his company’s Q3 earnings call.


“You’re hesitant to be a political football for somebody to complain about big companies or whatever in an election cycle. But that election cycle is over next week. And then you have a window, where I think all companies are looking at M&A,” Ergen said.

“If the timing was right, it would be in the near term, not the longer term,” he added.

 

[CurtisNEPA]

I always thought that Verizon would acquire Dish Network now that AT&T partly owns DirecTV now. That would make sense given that AT&T also offers mobile Internet and more. A person who is a subscriber to Verizon wireless, for example, can have the option to add Sling at a lower price.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

I always thought that Verizon would acquire Dish Network now that AT&T partly owns DirecTV now.

Would probably not be allowed, because Dish Network is a mobile carrier now. They bought a few chunks of Sprint that the government prevented T-Mobile from acquiring.