The DIRECTV-Dish Sale: Is There Anything That Could Stop It?

By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man –Follow me on X.
Former editor of Satellite DIRECT magazine. Reported on DIRECTV for 30 years.

TV Answer Man, it sounds like the DIRECTV and Dish buyout is a done deal, but is there anything that could stop it from happening? — Ian, Los Angeles.

Ian, DIRECTV revealed this week that it has agreed to buy Dish’s TV assets including its satellite service and its live streaming unit, Sling TV. However, despite the announcement, there are actually two things that could derail the deal.

1. The Federal Government
The U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Communications Commission will have to approve the sale. The last time (2002) that DIRECTV and Dish tried to merge, the FCC nixed it on the grounds that it was anti-competitive. The video landscape is dramatically different now with dozens of streaming services offering more choices than ever. Plus, both DIRECTV and Dish have lost nearly 20 million subscribers combined over the last nine years. But you never know. Federal regulators could still decide to rule against the sale although I don’t expect they will.

2. Dish’s Creditors
Bloomberg News reports that some Dish creditors are organizing to block the sale unless they get better terms when DIRECTV takes over Dish’s $10 billion debt. The news service says Dish’s bondholders could lose $1.6 billion via the deal and they might withhold authorization for the sale if their concerns are not alleviated. I suspect all parties will find a solution here because otherwise it’s likely that Dish would have to declare bankruptcy, leaving the creditors with even less money. But, again, you never know.

Ian, hope that helps. Happy viewing and stay safe!

The TV Answer Man will answer more questions about the DIRECTV-Dish deal. If you have a question, send it to The TV Answer Man at swann@tvanswerman.com Please include your first name and hometown in your message.

The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered the TV technology scene for more than three decades. He will report on the latest news and answer your questions regarding new devices and services that are changing the way you watch television. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.