DirecTV

AT&T’s DirecTV and Dish Network reportedly entered fresh talks to merge their pay-TV businesses, reigniting the possibility of a tie-up after an attempt to do so was quashed by regulators nearly two decades ago.

AT&T netted $7. 1 billion after completing its latest move to refocus on core businesses, spinning out its DirecTV entertainment unit into a new company in collaboration with investment group TPG Capital.

AT&T considered the sale of a minority stake in its family of pay-TV businesses, CNBC reported, appearing to shift strategy after a proposed deal to offload its DirecTV unit alone elicited lowball offers.

AT&T COO John Stankey (pictured) insisted the operator doesn’t plan to sell DirecTV, contradicting reports the satellite broadcasting unit might be on the chopping block, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported.

Speculation on the future of AT&T’s DirecTV unit intensified after a report emerged indicating the US operator was considering parting ways with the struggling satellite provider it acquired for $49 billion four years ago.

AT&T raised $5 billion through the sale of unsecured bonds, as it stepped up efforts to tackle a huge debt load amassed during a period of acquisitions, Bloomberg reported.

AT&T confirmed it is mulling a public share offering for a minority stake in its DirecTV Latin America business.