AT&T's U-verse/DirecTV Intentions Merit FCC Investigation, Herring Networks Says
Seemingly shedding U-verse in favor of DirecTV, AT&T is creating a smaller multichannel video programming distribution marketplace -- something the FCC should investigate, Herring Networks said in an FCC filing Monday in docket 14-90. When the AT&T/DirecTV deal was announced…
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in 2014, Herring had said it could be an opportunity for independent programmers, given that AT&T doesn't have its own programming (see 1405200025). Now with AT&T focusing on DirecTV and letting U-verse atrophy, U-verse vendors like Herring's One America News Network and AWE and other indie programming networks, as well as set-top box suppliers, "are being harmed," Herring said. The company also said the FCC should investigate "whether AT&T adequately disclosed [in the merger review] its full intentions" of ending U-verse and the harms to indie programmers and other vendors, consumers and the MVPD market of such an action. In a statement Tuesday, AT&T said, "To realize the many benefits of our DirecTV acquisition, we are leading our video marketing approach with DirecTV. However, our first priority is to listen to our customers and meet their needs, and if we determine a customer will be better served with the U-verse product, we offer attractive and compelling options.”