AT&T /Echostar

AT&T could be interested by acquiring Echostar (Satellite TV operator) for about $13bn. It was just an enduring rumor in the CES show in Las Vegas last week. Echostar already provides AT&T with its bunch of satellite TV channels. Echostar has about 12m subscribers and broadcast some 500 TV channels over its DISH network. For some time, ATT/SBC has been interested by satellite TV firm, when it tries in 2003 to buy Direct TV, an Echostar rival. The strategy here is to build an answer to MSOs and Channels, build triple and quadruple play, and get expertise in video.