In a landmark deal, DirecTV is set to acquire Dish DBS, including Dish TV and Sling TV, from EchoStar. This merger will create the largest pay-TV provider in the US, with around 20 million subscribers. DirecTV will pay EchoStar $1 and assume debt, estimated to be around $1 billion. The deal has been decades in the making, with the companies previously agreeing to merge in 2001, only to have the deal scuttled by the Department of Justice due to antitrust concerns.

The satellite TV industry has been hit hard by cord-cutting, with many subscribers opting for streaming services instead. DirecTV and Dish have been slow to adapt, focusing mainly on TV, whereas cable companies have successfully pivoted to broadband internet and mobile services. The competition has only intensified with the rise of streaming services like YouTube TV and Hulu with Live TV.

The merged company aims to offer smaller, more affordable packages, which is exactly what consumers have been asking for. DirecTV has already made moves in this direction, striking a deal with Disney to offer slimmer, genre-based packages. The combined company will be better equipped to negotiate with programmers and offer a more personalized viewing experience.

Satellite TV Giants Unite: A New Era for Pay-TV?

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