AT&T and Time Warner merger: Complete coverage

AT&T has officially announced its intention to acquire Time Warner Inc. for $85.4 billion, a move that would have broad implications for cable operators, telcos and broadcasters. The deal would put multiple content arms, including HBO and Warner Bros., under the AT&T umbrella, enabling the telco to create a more robust direct-to-consumer video platform with its upcoming DirecTV Now offering.

Fierce has been covering these developments from a wide range of angles since day one. You can find all our content on the merger linked on this page, and be sure to check back in as the story unfolds.

AT&T getting into the movie biz with studio that’s much hotter than Universal was when Comcast bought it

Although AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson conceded that he’s never run a movie studio before, chances are the acquisition of Warner Bros. Pictures, part of the company’s $85.4 billion bid to buy Time Warner Inc., isn’t an afterthought. Read more.

How AT&T buying Time Warner affects other programmers

 

As AT&T embarks on a long process to acquire Time Warner Inc. for $85 billion, the implications for other programmers run deep. During today’s call to discuss the proposed deal, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson described how the tie-up with Time Warner will increase the ability to offer both advertising-based and subscription services while also providing more audience data insights that can be used to better development content and target ads. Read more.

AT&T’s Time Warner review should be smooth because’s its about ‘vertical integration,’ not horizontal, CEO says

AT&T expects its $85.4 billion purchase of Time Warner Inc. to close at the end of 2017 and not face the kind of regulatory resistance that Comcast/Time Warner Cable did. Read more.

AT&T, Time Warner want to out-innovate cable

AT&T’s proposed $85 billion takeover of Time Warner Inc. will, in part, help the combined companies push video distribution innovation that may have been slowed by cable companies. Read more.

AT&T adds 323K DirecTV subs in Q3, declares virtualized platform the centerpiece of the Time Warner deal

Just 36 hours after announcing its proposal to buy Time Warner Inc. for $85 billion, AT&T said it added 323,000 customers in the third quarter to its DirecTV platform, which it described as a centerpiece to the aggressive content play. Read more.

It’s official: AT&T to acquire Time Warner for $85B

AT&T announced it will acquire Time Warner Inc. for $85.4 billion. The deal puts HBO under the AT&T umbrella, as well as Turner Networks, home to CNN, TNT and TBS. AT&T would also control the powerful Warner Bros. TV Studios operation, as well as Warner Bros. Pictures.

The purchase comes as AT&T is working to launch an OTT service called DirecTV Now later this year, and solidifies AT&T’s desire to supply content alongside wireless and wired network connections. Read more.

Update: AT&T reportedly in advanced talks to buy Time Warner

AT&T’s long-speculated acquisition dalliance with Time Warner Inc. has moved to the level of advanced talks that could culminate in a deal as soon as this weekend. Read more.