<p>DirecTV is currently in advanced discussions to acquire their rival, Dish Network, as part of a merger. The companies were previously the two biggest <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/directv-vs-dish-for-soccer-fans/">satellite television providers</a> in the United States. </p>



<p>Nevertheless, they have since gone in different directions in recent years.</p>



<p>Dish Network reached its peak popularity back in 2010 with 14.1 million total subscribers. </p>



<p>The company, however, has since declined to have 10 million users as of 2022. Their fall was partially due to satellite providers experiencing tough times. People gradually either went back to cable or, in most cases, signed up for streaming services.</p>



<p>Another issue for Dish Network was the fact that the company historically opted not to carry higher-priced regional sports networks. </p>



<p>Their decline was in perfect step with the MSG Network leaving Dish Network in the fall of 2010. Other popular regional sports channels, such as Bally Sports, also left the provider as well.</p>



<p>DirecTV, on the other hand, actually gained subscribers beyond 2010. This came as AT&amp;T completed a takeover of the provider in 2015 for around $67.1 billion. DirecTV’s ability to stay afloat during this period is attributed to its rebrand, as well as the introduction of a streaming service.</p>



<h2>Dish Network’s parent company heading for bankruptcy without a deal</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/27/echostar-nears-deal-to-sell-dish-to-directv-with-debt-payment-looming.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CNBC</a> is now reporting that EchoStar, Dish Network’s parent company, will sell the provider to DirecTV. The agreement is not yet complete, but it is apparently close to a done deal. </p>



<p>In fact, the financial website claims that both sides are hopeful that an agreement will be in place by Monday.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Stock In Dish Network Parent EchoStar Surges On DirecTV Merger Reports <a href="https://t.co/8j8NtYJb4A">https://t.co/8j8NtYJb4A</a></p>— Deadline (@DEADLINE) <a href="https://twitter.com/DEADLINE/status/1839743638429151291?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 27, 2024</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<p>The potential deal is down to EchoStar’s ongoing financial troubles. The company wants to pay off nearly $2 billion of debt in the near future. This comes as EchoStar had just $521 million in cash and securities as of this summer.</p>



<p>EchoStar’s seemingly pending bankruptcy has, however, thrown a monkey wrench into the negotiations with DirecTV. Not only do the two sides have to come to an agreement, but EchoStar’s creditors also have to get involved as well.</p>



<p>Despite the possible issues, the upcoming deal will be an all-cash agreement. According to CNBC’s sources, DirecTV could pay EchoStar up to $9 billion for all of EchoStar’s business dealings. This means that the deal would not solely involve the satellite television provider.</p>



<h2>Sling TV would move under DirecTV’s umbrella in agreement</h2>



<p>Because the agreement involves all of EchoStar, Sling TV will also be sold off to DirecTV. The streaming service is a subsidiary of Dish Network. Founded in 2015, Sling is one of the top multichannel video programming distributors in the United States. Nevertheless, much like Dish Network, Sling has also experienced relative hardship.</p>



<p>The streaming service previously peaked at nearly 2.6 million subscribers in the fall of 2021. The company has since lost hundreds of thousands of users in the last few years. As of November 2023, Sling recorded just over 2.1 million subscribers.</p>



<p>While DirecTV has weathered the storm, they have lost customers in recent years as well. Assuming the deal does get finalized, a merger between Sling and DirecTVStream will be announced. It remains to be seen how a potential partnership would affect current customers.</p>



<p>Photo credit: IMAGO / SOPA Images.</p>

DirecTV, DISH merger could see Sling, DirecTVStream merge

EchoStar, Dish Network's parent company, are in talks to sell the provider to DirecTV, in a merger involving Sling TV

<p></p><div><figure class="image"></figure></div>If you’re not reading the other sites in our network, you’re missing some great articles.<p></p>
<p><strong>Soccer On Dish</strong> writes about how the curse of ITVN has returned to Setanta Sports. <strong>La Liga Talk</strong> interviews Guillem Balague. Jeff Hash at <strong>Major League Soccer Talk</strong> writes about the <a href="http:\/\/www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/us-open-cup-second-round-results-and-third-round-matchups/270" target="_blank">latest results in the U.S. Open Cup</a> (the tournament that’s older than the FA Cup), while Kartik Krishnaiyer on the same site talks about CONCACAF World Cup qualifying as well as the latest <a href="http:\/\/www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/mls-wrap/269" target="_blank">MLS news</a>.</p>
<p>Shakira Graham over at <strong>Championship Talk</strong> provides the comprehensive list of preseason friendlies for Championship clubs. Condolences to Shakira for the loss of her mother.</p>
<p>At <strong>World Cup Buzz</strong>, Kartik discusses how the <a href="http:\/\/www.worldcupbuzz.com/concacaf-wc-qualifying-second-stage-complete/14" target="_blank">second round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying has wrapped up</a>, while Justin Franklin questions <a href="http:\/\/www.worldcupbuzz.com/euro-success-leads-to-wc-success/13" target="_blank">whether Euro success leads to World Cup success</a>.</p>
<p>Thanks to all of the bloggers on the entire network for writing about the game we love.</p>


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