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July 19, 2021 by Alex Sherman [CNBC]
AT&T is replacing T-Mobile as Dish Network’s primary network services partner, bringing the wireless company closer together with the satellite TV provider it nearly acquired almost 15 years ago and potentially increasing the likelihood of a Dish-DirecTV merger.
According to people familiar with the matter, Dish founder and billionaire Charlie Ergen reached the final stages of selling his company to AT&T in 2007. When he pushed for a last-minute change in terms, the deal fell apart.
Since then, AT&T has acquired -- and subsequently agreed to divest (at least partially) -- DirecTV and WarnerMedia for more than $167 billion, including debt. This year, AT&T sold a 30% stake in its pay-TV operations, including DirecTV, to private equity firm TPG and formed a new company. Three months later, AT&T announced its plans to spinoff WarnerMedia, which it paid more than $100 billion in 2018.
Read more on CNBC...
Image Credit:
Andrew Harrer | Bloomberg | Getty Images
AT&T is replacing T-Mobile as Dish Network’s primary network services partner, bringing the wireless company closer together with the satellite TV provider it nearly acquired almost 15 years ago and potentially increasing the likelihood of a Dish-DirecTV merger.
According to people familiar with the matter, Dish founder and billionaire Charlie Ergen reached the final stages of selling his company to AT&T in 2007. When he pushed for a last-minute change in terms, the deal fell apart.
Since then, AT&T has acquired -- and subsequently agreed to divest (at least partially) -- DirecTV and WarnerMedia for more than $167 billion, including debt. This year, AT&T sold a 30% stake in its pay-TV operations, including DirecTV, to private equity firm TPG and formed a new company. Three months later, AT&T announced its plans to spinoff WarnerMedia, which it paid more than $100 billion in 2018.
Read more on CNBC...
Image Credit:
Andrew Harrer | Bloomberg | Getty Images