Why the Merger Now?

The rise of other competitors, including streaming services and network-owned streaming services, has made it increasingly difficult for satellite TV providers to survive. The merger is nOW more about survival than creating a monopoly. DirecTV's CEO, Bill Morrow, stated that the company operates in a highly competitive video distribution industry and that the merger will allow them to work with programmers to realize their vision for the future of TV, which is to aggregate, curate, and distribute content tailored to customers' interests.