Satellite-TV rivals DirecTV, Dish reportedly in advanced merger talks

By Mike Murphy

Satellite-TV providers DirecTV and Dish are in advanced merger talks, according to reports late Thursday.

The Wall Street Journal reported DirecTV could acquire rival Dish, creating one of the nation's largest pay-TV providers, in a deal that could be announced as soon as Monday. Bloomberg News earlier reported the merger talks. Neither report mentioned a price tag.

The Journal reported the deal would also include Dish's streaming brand, Sling TV.

A DirecTV spokesperson told MarketWatch: "Rumors about a potential transaction involving DirecTV and Dish are nothing new, but we don't comment on rumors and speculation." Dish did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Previously: A Dish-DirecTV deal may not improve satellite TV's fate much, but bonds still rally

Both companies have been bleeding subscribers for years, amid a consumer shift from pay TV to streaming, and a merger has been long speculated. The two companies combined have around 20 million subscribers, according to the Journal, down sharply from a decade ago.

According to Bloomberg, such changes to the industry may alleviate antitrust concerns, as a merger could help the combined company compete with bigger streaming rivals.

The Journal added that a merger could help reduce costs for DirecTV's owners - AT&T Inc. (T) and private-equity firm TPG - and provide a lifeline for Dish owner EchoStar Corp. (SATS), which faces looming debt payments.

-Mike Murphy

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09-26-24 2040ET

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