DirecTV Acquires Dish Network Amid AT&T Exit

DirecTV has finalized an agreement to acquire Dish Network and its streaming service Sling TV from EchoStar for a nominal $1 and the assumption of $9.75 billion in debt. This merger, which has been decades in the making, aims to create a more competitive entity in the pay-TV market, which has been losing ground to streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. The combined company will have around 19-20 million subscribers and expects to negotiate better programming packages and offer more affordable, tailored content. AT&T is exiting the entertainment business by selling its remaining 70% stake in DirecTV to private equity firm TPG for $7.6 billion. The deal, subject to regulatory approval, is expected to close in the second half of 2025 and provides a crucial financial lifeline to the heavily indebted EchoStar.