DirecTV said on Monday it is acquiring competing satellite service Dish Network following years of talk around a potential merger.
The deal, if approved from government regulators, would make the combined company one of the biggest paid TV distributors in the US.
The move comes at a time when the companies continue to face heightened competition from streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu, as more people cut the cord on traditional satellite subscription services to save costs.
In a press release, DirecTV and Dish parent company EchoStar said the merger will create a “more robust competitive force in a video industry dominated by streaming services owned by large tech companies and programmers.” The deal will also include EchoStar’s Sling TV live streaming brand.
The acquisition, which will combine about 20 million subscribers among the services, intends to provide consumers with “compelling video options,” along with “more choices and better value.”
EchoStar would keep other
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