In what way does it make sense for a phone company to be connected with a satellite TV company?
The term “phone company” is just that these days, a term.
It allows Cable Companies the opportunity to use the term in their ads.
Such as, “Our Fiber Rich net work (a BS Term) and we are wonderfull unlike ,The Phone Company”
AT&T has always been a Communications Company and has always as such been involved in TV ever since the Big Three networks were first formed. AT&T did the network switching for all major networks beginning with their landlines and Microwave system even before we had launched a satellite into space. The local TV stations had a microwave dish they received their signal from AT&T. AT&T still is the backbone of nearly all communications even cell phones which uses AT&T switching and trunking services.
People forget that satellite TV was originally in it's in your home design was meant for locations which could not get a local TV station signal and many still today can not even 10 - 20 miles from the local TV tower farms. The digital technology changeover on over the air TV didn't change that because in such cases terrain is the issue.
AT&T by buying into DIRECTV simply is expanding it's consumer base. I've had the large 10 foot C-Band satellite, Dishnet, and Direct, which I have now. It was that or look at three network ghost TV. After the C-Band was installed I did my own maintenance, adjustments etc. I have installed all of my smaller dish systems as well. Direct has been the easiest. DishNet used to have a system which required two cables from each LNB on the dish to the switch close to the receiver.
Persons complaining about loosing satellite signals need to check several things. They require clear line of sight to three different positions at 101, 110, and 119 degrees pointing generally southwest. They must be aligned properly vertical and horizontally. Any length of cable from dish to receiver of about 75' or over requires an in-line amp.
Overall I'm happy with Direct TV because I understand neither the Cable Companies, AT&T {land line portion} nor any others but satellite services will ever in my lifetime provide me service for TV and high speed Internet. I'm waiting on tree trimmers to show up next week. When they finish I'm also calling Hughesnet to finally get rid of Dial Up Internet.
AT&T has ZERO interest or intent in upgrading it's rural land line services so they can provide DSL. If people believe Hughesnet is slow try Dial up. Not posted as a rant but rather for educational purposes. I'm a BellBrat my dad was a 45 yr career Bell Tech and I inherited my parents AT&T Stock LOL.