GNG News Guy
11-26-2007, 11:53 PM
http://i.dslr.net/urls/71/4471.gif (http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/ATT-Echostar-Rumors-Get-Ridiculous-89744)
USAToday (http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/telecom/2007-11-22-att-echostar_N.htm) all but buries AT&T's rumored acquisition of Echostar, saying that not only are the two companies not talking, AT&T "has no interest in trying to broker a deal anytime soon." AT&T had apparently talked to Echostar about a possible deal within the last few months, but the discussions didn't get very far. TheStreet.com, which has been a major pusher of the rumor for the last several months, continues to insist (http://www.thestreet.com/s/atts-echostar-pursuit-cools/newsanalysis/techtelecom/10391622.html?puc=_googlen?cm_ven=GOOGLEN&cm_cat=FREE&cm_ite=NA) that talks continue:"Conversations are still going on," says another source familiar with the EchoStar side of the discussions. And the two sides are still talking of a price somewhere in the $60 range, the source adds. AT&T had hoped to wrap up the deal with the Dish network broadcaster last week, but the phone company's board eased up a bit given the lack of investor enthusiasm. As one source said: "AT&T is digesting it."
Of course even if AT&T goes forward with the deal, it's not clear it would see regulatory approval. Already a shaky proposition under a Republican-controlled FCC, the deal would be even more unlikely should a Democrat take control of the White House and the FCC sees a new Democratic majority.
read comment(s) (http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/ATT-Echostar-Rumors-Get-Ridiculous-89744)
USAToday (http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/telecom/2007-11-22-att-echostar_N.htm) all but buries AT&T's rumored acquisition of Echostar, saying that not only are the two companies not talking, AT&T "has no interest in trying to broker a deal anytime soon." AT&T had apparently talked to Echostar about a possible deal within the last few months, but the discussions didn't get very far. TheStreet.com, which has been a major pusher of the rumor for the last several months, continues to insist (http://www.thestreet.com/s/atts-echostar-pursuit-cools/newsanalysis/techtelecom/10391622.html?puc=_googlen?cm_ven=GOOGLEN&cm_cat=FREE&cm_ite=NA) that talks continue:"Conversations are still going on," says another source familiar with the EchoStar side of the discussions. And the two sides are still talking of a price somewhere in the $60 range, the source adds. AT&T had hoped to wrap up the deal with the Dish network broadcaster last week, but the phone company's board eased up a bit given the lack of investor enthusiasm. As one source said: "AT&T is digesting it."
Of course even if AT&T goes forward with the deal, it's not clear it would see regulatory approval. Already a shaky proposition under a Republican-controlled FCC, the deal would be even more unlikely should a Democrat take control of the White House and the FCC sees a new Democratic majority.
read comment(s) (http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/ATT-Echostar-Rumors-Get-Ridiculous-89744)