AT&T To Announce Echostar Deal This Week? The Street.com's source talks...again.... Monday Nov 19 2007 14:47 EDT The rumor that AT&T was interested in buying Echostar has been floating around for years, though it was buoyed in September by a Street.com report that said the deal was imminent. With a 24% drop in stock value this month, the website now insists the time is right, and a deal could be announced before the end of the week. From Scott Moritz: quote: Negotiations for AT&T to buy EchoStar have turned "hot and heavier over the last week" as bankers for the two companies try to hammer out an agreement, says a source familiar with the discussions. The final price for the satellite-TV operator is still in negotiation, and it's likely to be somewhere between $64 to $68 a share, the source said. AT&T has made its mind up to do the deal, and EchoStar chief Charlie Ergen is ready to move ahead with the buyout, the source adds.
Echostar's Dish Network is already AT&T's partner on a DSL/DBS hybrid DVR service dubbed Homezone. Homezone is aimed at existing customers outside the deployment range of their U-Verse VDSL IPTV service (of which there will be quite a few). |
en102Canadian, eh? join:2001-01-26 Valencia, CA |
en102
Member
2007-Nov-19 2:54 pm
I'd prefer...AT&T / DirecTv + VDSL Internet + VoIP + Wireless over current offerings of AT&T Uverse + interleaved/slower internet + VoIP + Wireless or AT&T POTS/LD + ADSL + Wireless (current setup) + DirecTv. | |
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ross7
Member
2007-Nov-19 8:51 pm
Re: I'd prefer...said by en102:AT&T / DirecTv + VDSL Internet + VoIP + Wireless over current offerings of AT&T Uverse + interleaved/slower internet + VoIP + Wireless or AT&T POTS/LD + ADSL + Wireless (current setup) + DirecTv. Yeah, that's the ticket, buy Echostar! Keep your poison mitts off DTV! | |
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to en102
said by en102:AT&T Uverse + interleaved/slower internet Since when is interleaved on VDSL2 slower internet? Where do you get your information? Interleaved on VDSL2 is not slower it isn't G.DMT modulation its VDSL2 which is totally different. Its not the end of the world its your world delivered at high speed. | |
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Say No to the Death Star Charlie!Say No to the evil Death Star Charlie! I wonder what would happen to Dish Networks fees and programming? | |
| | JeffConnoisseur of leisurely things Premium Member join:2002-12-24 GMT -5 |
Jeff
Premium Member
2007-Nov-19 3:27 pm
Re: Say No to the Death Star Charlie!said by zoom314:Say No to the evil Death Star Charlie! I wonder what would happen to Dish Networks fees and programming? I don't know, that's a good question. Time will tell, but I'll tell you this---if service goes down and/or price goes up, I'm off to FiosTV...I've held out on FiosTV for this long because of the alleged horrendous DVR, but I'll make the switch to their TV package since I already have Fios Internet and telephone. | |
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Re: Say No to the Death Star Charlie!said by Jeff:said by zoom314:Say No to the evil Death Star Charlie! I wonder what would happen to Dish Networks fees and programming? I don't know, that's a good question. Time will tell, but I'll tell you this---if service goes down and/or price goes up, I'm off to FiosTV...I've held out on FiosTV for this long because of the alleged horrendous DVR, but I'll make the switch to their TV package since I already have Fios Internet and telephone. Oh I wish Fios or even FiosTV were around here and yeah I live in Verizon territory too(I have Verizon DSL). If the rates went up I'd have to think about going to DirecTV(TW Cable is too much) and that would take Me about 2 months to save up for as I'm on a fixed income. | |
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| N3OGHYo Soy Col. "Bat" Guano Premium Member join:2003-11-11 Philly burbs |
to zoom314
IF ONLY YOU KNEW THE POW-AHHH | |
| | tkdslr join:2004-04-24 Pompano Beach, FL |
to zoom314
said by zoom314:Say No to the evil Death Star Charlie! I wonder what would happen to Dish Networks fees and programming? They will go up.. Were else could they go?? Adding more debt is not a great idea in the current economic environment. Charlie.. I would demand payment in GOLD bullion. It's a guessing game when it comes to stock prices and/or the value of the dollar. Be safe and price your company in gold. | |
| | KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little Guy Premium Member join:2000-01-17 Tulsa, OK Netgear WNDR3700v2 Zoom 5341J
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to zoom314
I really do like Dish Network.
If AT&T takes over, I know it's the beginning of the end. Not of the company, but of my level of happiness with them.
I could see all kinds of crap bundling penalty pricing and the like going on, where you can't get Dish for a decent price unless you swallow POTS and other crap.
Our competitive situation in the USA is poor. We have, for most people, basically BigCableCo vs BigTelco. Further consolidation in TV, Wireless, Broadband really just makes it worse. As such, both already act like 200 pound gorillas and pound caps, restrictions, crappy TOS provisions down your throat.
You don't like them, but have to take them anyway because your choices are so few you really can't decline. | |
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Heaven Forbid!I certainly don't hope this happens....this could be terrible for Echostar....just think what AT&T will have control of:
-massive amount of the nation's telephone service -Echostar (thus, Dish Network) -Slingbox
Not good....Slingbox could suddenly be turned into a for-profit model for AT&T "Oh, that'll be an extra $1 a month; it's a stress on our network," later "oh, that'll be an extra $5 a month, it's a stress on our network"...yea, you get the picture.
Also, I have a feeling AT&T would be a lot more strict on you needing a telephone line with your satellite service...higher charges/etc....let's hope they'd make a clause for those outside of AT&T's territory (because if they don't, there's going to be a lot of angry/screwed customers).
Let's hope it doesn't happen; this is disaster brewing. | |
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Re: Heaven Forbid!My thoughts are that AT&T is doing this because they know that landlines are declining, no matter what they do. By investing today in TV and high speed internet they will still have a good business model for years to come. By not moving heavily into the television business they would be in big trouble.
Slowly but surely AT&T is realizing that not all customers want landlines, and forcing them on people just chases away more customers. Just recently AT&T let me cancel my landline and keep my DSL for just $4/month more. Most would have to agree that this is a very decent deal, and if you bundle the bill with wireless through AT&T you don't get stuck with the $4 fee. | |
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to Fox McCloud
You can blame Sling Media for selling out in the first place. Not the companies that bought them afterwards like Echostar or ATT. | |
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to Fox McCloud
While it may be an intimidating thought, let's consider the history...
AT&T recently purchased Cingular. The number of rate hikes that have taken place? Zip. (actually, they've since added a new Unlimited Family messaging plan for the family talk accounts, $29.99 for unlimited text on all lines in a family plan. IMHO it's a helluva deal.)
SBC recently purchased AT&T. SBC then adopted the name AT&T (not the other way around) for brand recognition. The plans have not changed. Some rates, particularly the long distance plans, have increased since, but that's not really a change from when it was SBC...
So everyone relax, take a deep breath, and remember, it's just entertainment. I have a cell phone. I'd just assume cancel it all and go to the library. For free. | |
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Re: Heaven Forbid!said by CConverse:While it may be an intimidating thought, let's consider the history... AT&T recently purchased Cingular. The number of rate hikes that have taken place? Zip. (actually, they've since added a new Unlimited Family messaging plan for the family talk accounts, $29.99 for unlimited text on all lines in a family plan. IMHO it's a helluva deal.) SBC recently purchased AT&T. SBC then adopted the name AT&T (not the other way around) for brand recognition. The plans have not changed. Some rates, particularly the long distance plans, have increased since, but that's not really a change from when it was SBC... So everyone relax, take a deep breath, and remember, it's just entertainment. I have a cell phone. I'd just assume cancel it all and go to the library. For free. this is true, but that doesn't mean they won't start doing it once in the future. it also doesn't void the fact that AT&T is still the NSA's personal whore. | |
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Direct TVThats why I am staying with Direct TV! | |
| | | | | en102Canadian, eh? join:2001-01-26 Valencia, CA |
en102
Member
2007-Nov-19 5:25 pm
Re: Direct TVI'm not switching DTV for Dish... I don't think that moving to Uverse/VDSL is worth it (IMO - too many bugs) TimeWarner might be another option next year.. for now I'll keep my DTV. | |
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Re: Direct TVI love my DTV picture and service, never had a problem. I only wish fios was available here, i would get it in a heartbeat but we have access to dialup, comcast, or satillite. went with directway/hughesnet because it was faster than comcast hsi because everyone in the neighborhood has it and at a neighbors house its extremely slow and comcast refuses to admit they have a problem. | |
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At&t Owning Dish Network(Echostar)While I don't want prices to go up or anything, but what difference is it for at&t customers that already have Dish Network thru at&t, everything is on one bill, one conveient payment each month, and great service. Overall i'm very happy with at&t myself, and if the deal does go thru, then should be still the same service we receive now. Currently have at&t phone and long distance, dsl, at&t dishnetwork, at&t wireless service.
so in conclusion i support at&t owning Echostar/Dishnetwork, i don't see any bad points to it myself, if they require a phone line to the receivers fine by me, actually have one connected now. | |
| FFH5 Premium Member join:2002-03-03 Tavistock NJ |
FFH5
Premium Member
2007-Nov-19 4:31 pm
Will need Justice Dept and FCC OK's - might not be easyThis will need a few OKs to proceed. The news item doesn't mention that, but it will be needed. And the Dems in Congress may put pressure on to hold this off for a while. | |
| | K3SGM- -... ...- - Premium Member join:2006-01-17 Columbia, PA |
K3SGM
Premium Member
2007-Nov-19 5:51 pm
Re: Will need Justice Dept and FCC OK's - might not be easysaid by FFH5:This will need a few OKs to proceed. The news item doesn't mention that, but it will be needed. And the Dems in Congress may put pressure on to hold this off for a while. The FCC is E-A-S-Y these days. I don't think Congress gets up down votes on corporate mergers these days, it's not State Run Business. Federal Trade Commission and the DOJ yes, they would get a vote, or at least an opportunity to review the deal. I'm sure Kevin Martin would get a Lifetime Subscription to Darth Network out of this as well, so of course he has already voted YES, YES, YES, YES, YES!!!!! Liberty Media(A Cable Company) owns a majority of DirecTV.(Kevin Martin don't like CableCo's) As long as AT&T(A Telco, Kevin Martin LOVES TELCO's, and The Bigger The Better!) does not hold any portion of DirecTV, such a purchase would prove pro-competition in the Satellite business, and would probably slide on through the approvals process largely unchecked. Never discount Charlie Ergen, he is a pretty resilient and resourceful guy, he has been in the satellite TV business since it's start in the the late 1970's / early 1980's. He'll cash out of Dish network, and probably use the proceeds to buy DirecTV from Libery Media, so he can get right back into the Satellite TV business again. | |
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viperlmw
Premium Member
2007-Nov-19 7:04 pm
Re: Will need Justice Dept and FCC OK's - might not be easysaid by K3SGM: ~snip~ Liberty Media(A Cable Company) owns a majority of DirecTV.(Kevin Martin don't like CableCo's) ~snip~ Did this close yet? I thought it was still in the works. I'm hoping that Liberty Media (with a significant investment in TIVO) will bring TIVO back to DirecTV | |
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DarthVader says....Charlie....I am your Fa--ther!
Join Me and we can Rule the Galaxy! | |
| Antonlm join:2004-09-15 Birmingham, AL |
Employee discountI have been waiting for this. Maybe I can get an employee discount and a bundle discount. (former BS territory and I didn't want to get DTV) | |
| WeSRT4 join:2000-11-20 Mobile, AL 1 edit |
WeSRT4
Member
2007-Nov-19 9:04 pm
Imagine the possibilitesIf they do purchase Dish, they could then integrate Dish and U-Verse. They could use U-Verse to supply on-demand and interactive features along with locals in HD. I think this could be good, very good. | |
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Re: Imagine the possibilitesRemember that everything comes with a new price with AT$T. And to rebroadcast or change anything with Dish they have to talk to the content providers which would probably mean a $$$$ hike. | |
| | | Link8 join:2001-12-16 Davis, CA |
Link8
Member
2007-Nov-19 11:04 pm
Re: Imagine the possibilitesI can see it now, first they'll replace all the red staplers with boston ones.
Say goodbye to channel 982! | |
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phoneboy3
Anon
2007-Nov-19 9:19 pm
death, taxes, and AT&T making a mess of thingsThe only thing that is certain is death, taxes, and AT&T screwing up whatever new business they purchase that is even slightly out of their core competency (basically anything that does not use telephone land lines) | |
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Re: death, taxes, and AT&T making a mess of thingssaid by phoneboy3 :
The only thing that is certain is death, taxes, and AT&T screwing up whatever new business they purchase that is even slightly out of their core competency (basically anything that does not use telephone land lines) LOL.... they do have a way of messing up things don't they! I am fairly happy with Cingular (your new ATT). But I must say that I am happy that I just left Dish as Directv just edged past them in HD stations. I must say that Dish has the best HDDVRs by far in the VIP 622 and 722 (and now ATT will have that). So I am using Slingbox (newly owned by Dish) on my Comcast and ATT 3G network (for PDA)....slinging (also using HAVA HD) my new Directv HD to my laptop and to my ATT 8925. It pays to diversify. Wayne | |
| | rcdaileyDragoonfly Premium Member join:2005-03-29 Rialto, CA |
to phoneboy3
said by phoneboy3 :
The only thing that is certain is death, taxes, and AT&T screwing up whatever new business they purchase that is even slightly out of their core competency (basically anything that does not use telephone land lines) So what is their core competency, anyway? | |
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viperpa33sWhy Me? Premium Member join:2002-12-20 Bradenton, FL |
2 things to worry aboutBesides worrying about the FCC, they will need to worry about the shareholders. AT&T is going to have to justify why they are spending all this money for satellite t.v. while they are also spending a bunch of money on u verse. Would love to see how this all plays out. | |
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BiasedYes, I'm biased against AT&T (formerly SBC who took AT&T name). They bought my local Pacific Bell and we've been stagnant for years. No new DSL RT/CO locations, the highly touted Uverse rollout in Sacramento probably can serve a few dozen or low hundred people because SBC/AT&T has absolutely been stagnant here. AT&T wouldn't even let me have DSL because I'm too far from their handful (and that's not a joke, AT&T only has a handful of COs in Sacramento County). DSLExtreme installed my DSL which works perfectly (but not as fast as Comcast HSI). Now AT&T is buying my satellite provider. Great. Wonderful. Prices will go up, services will either stagnate or decrease if prior experience is any guide.
We need more competition. AT&T is not the answer in my personal opinion or experience. Perhaps somewhere in the US they are a wonderful company but not in my neighborhood. | |
| mikenolan7 Premium Member join:2005-06-07 Torrance, CA |
Competition?I thought that the satellite companies were supposed to provide competition for telcos/cablecos? Not likely to happen if they are owned by telcos/cablecos. Not that there was any serious competition, with the small number of subscribers, but at least you had some other choice if you were completely fed up. | |
| kruser Premium Member join:2002-06-01 Eastern MO |
kruser
Premium Member
2007-Nov-20 1:09 am
Doesn't MatterI have at&t for local pots service as well as cellular service. I also have been a long time subscriber of echostar or dish.
All of the above are great services for me and they all work reliably most of the time.
What matters to me is when any one of them fails and I have to pick up a phone and call an 800 number for support. The one that answers with a real live person and that person is in this country and also english speaking gets a gold star from me. The trouble is, none of the above can provide that service. Maybe repair on your local POTS line will get a local person but that is about it. Anything else and you are in India before you know it!
So to me it does not matter if at&t takes over Dish. Tech support will still be in India.
If a company wants to make a big change that is noticed then they should move all tech support back upon our soil and also make sure that the people they hire can speak fluent english. /rant off. | |
| Digibits Premium Member join:2000-09-02 The Hilltop |
Digibits
Premium Member
2007-Nov-20 1:16 pm
No DISH Deal With ATT Soon | |
| linicxCaveat Emptor Premium Member join:2002-12-03 United State |
linicx
Premium Member
2007-Nov-20 1:52 pm
worst of the worstIt is impossible to get any worse service than AT&T and Dish, unless Vonage is thrown in the mix. Then of course, they could be called the absolute worst instead the bottom feeders they are today. .
Understand that what kind of deal you get depends upon the deal AT&T made with your state congress and county where you live, Generally, metropolitan areas like NYC and LA get the meat while smaller communities like Peoria (pop. 200.000) and Oceanside (pop.100,000) get the bones. Also, not all products work, nor are they all available in all parts of the lower 48. | |
| rkdigital Premium Member join:2004-10-28 Fort Wayne, IN Obihai OBi202
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AT&T F*&^%$$^& up my dish accountAT&T allready has my DSL and POTS line screwed up, you pick up the phone and dial an 800 number and I try my darndest to understand the NON ENGLISH speaking person on the other end of the phone in God knows where (India maybe), after spending 20 minutes on the phone I finally get to tier 2 tech support, and that is still on US soil. But if AT&T takes over Dish, I can see it all ready, everything on one phone number for support, taking ten minutes just to listen to the menus and being on hold for another 20 minutes to wait to talk to someone who's primary language is another besides English, then spending another 20 minutes say the same sentence over and over again to get your point across to the person that you are not an idiot, and you know what you are talking about (considering it is my current profession) and then maybe then you might get your problem resolved. Hummmmm another hour of my time wasted to fix a 5 minute issue. AT&T could have saved me 55 minutes of my life if they had kept their call centers here in the US, instead of moving them oversea's, were they are raping their economy, and not paying those employee's any health benifits, any workmans comp, and any PTO. Their goes to show you how the bottom line thinkers in the company don't realize how important it is to keep their business in the US, that will ultimately improve their bottom line by improving their response time to customer inquires, and complaints, and their customers would be much happier if they could just understand the person they were talking to on the other end of the phone call.
Just my 2 cents. | |
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