AT&T Extends DISH Reseller Deal By 30 Days

AT&T Inc. (T) today confirmed that it has extended the five-year TV resale deal with DISH Network Corp. (DISH) (due to conclude at yearend) until the end of January, as the telco continues to evaluate its satellite operator options.

DISH is a key ingredient of AT&T’s video services plan, as it provides a service to those in the telco’s territory not currently served by its U-verse TV landline service.

AT&T prompted speculation not long ago when it reminded the masses that its five-year deal with DISH would end on Dec. 31, 2008, but failed to disclose how it would proceed on the satellite TV resale front beyond that date.

And with DISH losing large numbers of subscribers this year and a related drop in its stock price, some have speculated that AT&T would buy DISH as opposed to entering another long-term resale deal with it.

By contrast, Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) relies heavily on a resale deal with DIRECTV Group Inc. (DTV) to reach customers in its region that can’t get its landline FiOS TV service.

In a brief statement, AT&T said: “We appreciate DISH Network/Echostar cooperating with us as we continue to evaluate our DBS options going forward.”

The telco did not say when it expected to make a decision on this front.

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