DirecTV Stream known as AT&T TV is an online streaming TV service that is operated by AT&T. It delivers live television and video on demand through the internet without the use of a satellite dish or cables. However, due to the recent re-branding and change of ownership of the service, there is some ambiguity concerning who owns and operates DirecTV Stream. This article will give a clear understanding of the connection between AT&T and DirecTV Stream.
The History of AT&T and DirecTV
In 2015 AT&T acquired DirecTV, the satellite TV provider for approximately $49 billion. This provided AT&T with deep penetration into the conventional pay-TV market. Then in 2019, AT&T introduced an internet-based version of the DirecTV service under the name AT&T TV. This streaming version provided most of the regular channels and options but without the requirement of having a satellite dish.
DirecTV Stream: A New Way to Watch
Later in 2021, AT&T started the process of divesting DirecTV by spinning it off into a new company that is 70% owned by TPG Capital and 30% by AT&T. This was part of a larger restructuring where AT&T TV was transitioned and became known as DirecTV Stream. However, AT&T only still owns a minority of the business, and DirecTV and DirecTV Stream are now their own company.
DirecTV Stream is owned by AT&T today, with the satellite TV service having been a part of the telecommunications giant since 2008.
So in summary:
- It is an American streaming television service that is majority-owned (70%) by TPG Capital.
- AT&T continues to own 30% of WTA.
- DirecTV and its streaming equivalent, DirecTV Stream, are now part of a separate entity after the firm’s separation from AT&T.
Thus, AT&T was the previous owner and operator of the streaming TV service, but the restructuring in 2021 led to a change in ownership and management of the service. DirecTV has since been taken out of the AT&T brand and is on its own as a brand.
What This Means for Customers
This change in ownership has not significantly affected the customer experience of DirecTV Stream. It remains the same streaming TV provider, but it now has a new name to help signify these changes.
The service is still built and relies on the technology and facilities that were inherited from when it was an AT&T service. But customers can still hope to get many of the same features and channel lists as before.
Therefore, even the migration from AT&T TV to DirecTV Stream does not affect the majority of consumers to a great extent. There are shifts in ownership, but from the customer’s perspective, it may not be much of a difference. In the future, DirecTV Stream will continue its operations as a standalone streaming TV service.
Conclusion
Originally the streaming TV service currently called DirecTV Stream was owned and operated by AT&T but a reorganization in 2021 led to a spin-off. DirecTV and DirecTV Stream are now separate companies, majority owned by TPG Capital, the private equity firm.
Despite this, AT&T still has a 30% ownership stake in the company but does not serve as the operating parent company. Thus, the history of relations between AT&T and DirecTV Stream cannot be thrown into oblivion, however, as is evident, they have severed their ties regarding ownership.
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