AT&T is to buy dish network????!!!!!!!

[ghengis]

Sounds From the Rumor Mill: AT&T Moving on DISH

Once Thomas Eagan's upgrade on EchoStar hit the streets, it didn't take long for the "AT&T's gonna make its move on EchoStar" talk to follow. In fact, hours after the Oppenheimer analyst upgraded the satcaster's stock from "neutral" to "buy," and with it a $4 to $6 share valuation, stories starting hitting the 'net with more rumors and speculation.

According to investment site TheStreet.com, the topic of AT&T buying DISH is starting to get interesting, with sources close to the companies saying AT&T is offering to buy the satellite company for $55 per share. But, the site says, EchoStar is holding out for more dough, somewhere closer to $65 per share.

EchoStar data says outstanding shares of the company total 447.48 million. At $55 per share, AT&T appears to be prepared to offer roughly $22.62 billion to gain control of the DISH Network operator. A $65 per share estimate puts EchoStar's price tag at $29 billion.
In response to EchoStar's plans on spinning-off into two separate companies, Eagan said, "We see the uncoupling of the DISH divisions into two stocks as a step towards a sale of the DISH Network. Given the success of the cable triple play and the lack of success of AT&T's U-verse rollout, it seems to us a matter of when, NOT if, AT&T acquires EchoStar."