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FCC Approves AT&T's DirecTV Purchase

Posted by Soulskill on from the time-to-get-large dept.

An anonymous reader writes: The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has granted approval to AT&T to purchase DirecTV for $48.5 billion. AT&T will become the largest provider of cable or satellite TV in the U.S., with 26.4 million subscribers. "Adding TV customers gives AT&T more power to negotiate with big media companies over prices for those channels. The deal also combines a nationwide satellite TV service, the country's largest, with the No. 2 nationwide wireless network as time spent on mobile devices increases." The FCC did put conditions on the deal: AT&T must make fiber internet service available to 12.5 million people, offer cheaper internet plans to low-income customers, and not mess with the internet traffic of online video competitors.

2 of 100 comments (clear)

  1. Time to cut the cord by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    Enough consolidation already. There is nothing left to watch on DirectTV anyway, once Stewart quits in a couple of weeks. Science channel is all ghosts and reality tv, scifi is wrestling and reality tv, discover is completely useless and history isn't even the nazi channel anymore.

  2. Choice. Dead. by Tablizer · · Score: 5, Informative

    We were looking at going with DirectTV to get away from AT&T, because AT&T sucks rotting puss-filled maggot carcases on a good day.

    There goes that plan.

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    Table-ized A.I.