AT&T to purchase DirectTV

AT&T has announced that their plans to purchase DirectTV, which will give the carrier access to 20 million DirectTV customers. This would theoretically, make them more competitive with Comcast, which is in the midst of their own merger with Time Warner Cable. 

What's especially interesting is that AT&T clearly sees this deal as fueling more than simply traditional television service:

The premier pay TV brand with the best content relationships now poised to deliver video to multiple screens – mobile, TV, laptops and more – to meet consumers' future viewing and programming preferences

The deal "implies a total equity value of $48.5 billion and a total transaction value of $67.1 billion". AT&T and DirectTV already work together, so the merger is simply their next step. The deal still requires regulatory approval. Do you think a unified AT&T/DirectTV will give you better service or less competition? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below

source - AT&T