AT&T and DirecTV consummated their new bundling relationship with the launch of AT&T | DIRECTV. “Through the new alliance, customers can enjoy AT&T | DIRECTV programming packages as part of an AT&T service bundle, including quadruple-play bundles with TV, broadband, home phone and wireless services — something cable competitors do not offer today,” says AT&T in a company statement. The new relationship follows older satellite partnerships between AT&T and DISH Networks and AT&T acquired BellSouth, and DirecTV. The new partnership covers AT&T’s entire 22 state footprint with a single satellite TV offer.
With DirecTV, AT&T can now offer a video bundle to any customer (assuming they are eligible to receive DirecTV), regardless of whether they are in a U-Verse TV footprint. Some have even suggested the AT&T | DirecTV partnership is a prelude to an eventual acquisition of DirecTV by AT&T. The current economic climate with its challenging credit situation has probably cooled that speculation a little.
