AT&T Takes $15.5 Billion Charge on DirecTV, Adds More Phone Customers

AT&T Takes $15.5 Billion Charge on DirecTV, Adds More Phone Customers
The DirecTV broadcast satellite service provider logo at its headquarters in Caracas, Venezuela, on May 19, 2020. Federico Parra/AFP via Getty Images
Reuters
Updated:

AT&T said on Wednesday it wrote down its premium TV business, which includes satellite television unit DirecTV, by $15.5 billion, reflecting the impact of years of cord-cutting in the industry as viewers move to cheaper online streaming services.

The fourth-quarter writedown comes as sources have told Reuters AT&T has entered into exclusive talks to sell a minority stake in DirecTV to private equity firm TPG in a deal seen valuing the division at above $15 billion.