Reuters
The naming of a new CEO at DirecTV Group Inc could signal it’s time for a takeover bid for the satellite TV company.
Some observers think the appointment of PepsiCo Inc veteran Michael White, who has no experience in pay TV, is a sign DirecTV parent Liberty Media Corp just wants a “baby-sitter” before a sale in the next couple of years.
Representatives from Verizon Communications Inc and AT&T Inc have already each approached Liberty, controlled by John Malone, in the last year to express interest, according to people with knowledge of the talks. The discussions fizzled out on regulatory concerns and no talks are now taking place, they said on condition of anonymity.
Liberty, AT&T, Verizon and DirecTV all declined to comment.
“Either telco would see DirecTV as a viable acquisition candidate,” said Standard & Poor’s equity analyst Tuna Amobi More…