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AT&T: Difference between revisions
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On February 25, 2021, AT&T announced that it would spin-off DirecTV, U-Verse TV, and DirecTV Stream into a separate entity, selling a 30% stake to [[TPG Capital]] (owners of [[Astound Broadband]] cable), while retaining a 70% stake in the new standalone company. The deal was closed on August 2, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldsmith |first=Jill |date=February 25, 2021 |title=WarnerMedia Parent AT&T Sells DirecTV Stake To Private Equity Firm TPG |url=https://deadline.com/2021/02/att-deal-directv-with-private-equity-firm-tpg-1234701305/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]] |access-date=February 11, 2022 |archive-date=September 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230922021134/https://deadline.com/2021/02/att-deal-directv-with-private-equity-firm-tpg-1234701305/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=AT&T Completes DirecTV Spinoff; Satellite Operator Unites Its Internet-Delivered Bundles Under New Brand DirecTV Stream|url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/att-directv-spinoff-tpg-streaming-bundles-warnermedia-1234807615/|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|first=Dade|last=Hayes|date=August 2, 2021|access-date=February 11, 2022|archive-date=December 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230054624/https://deadline.com/2021/08/att-directv-spinoff-tpg-streaming-bundles-warnermedia-1234807615/|url-status=live}}</ref> | On February 25, 2021, AT&T announced that it would spin-off DirecTV, U-Verse TV, and DirecTV Stream into a separate entity, selling a 30% stake to [[TPG Capital]] (owners of [[Astound Broadband]] cable), while retaining a 70% stake in the new standalone company. The deal was closed on August 2, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldsmith |first=Jill |date=February 25, 2021 |title=WarnerMedia Parent AT&T Sells DirecTV Stake To Private Equity Firm TPG |url=https://deadline.com/2021/02/att-deal-directv-with-private-equity-firm-tpg-1234701305/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]] |access-date=February 11, 2022 |archive-date=September 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230922021134/https://deadline.com/2021/02/att-deal-directv-with-private-equity-firm-tpg-1234701305/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=AT&T Completes DirecTV Spinoff; Satellite Operator Unites Its Internet-Delivered Bundles Under New Brand DirecTV Stream|url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/att-directv-spinoff-tpg-streaming-bundles-warnermedia-1234807615/|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|first=Dade|last=Hayes|date=August 2, 2021|access-date=February 11, 2022|archive-date=December 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230054624/https://deadline.com/2021/08/att-directv-spinoff-tpg-streaming-bundles-warnermedia-1234807615/|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
On May 17, 2021, AT&T announced plans to relinquish its equity interest in [[WarnerMedia]], and have it merge with [[Discovery, Inc.]] in a {{USD|43 billion}} deal to establish a new media company.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/17/media/warnermedia-discovery-deal/index.html|work= | On May 17, 2021, AT&T announced plans to relinquish its equity interest in [[WarnerMedia]], and have it merge with [[Discovery, Inc.]] in a {{USD|43 billion}} deal to establish a new media company.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/17/media/warnermedia-discovery-deal/index.html|work=CNN|title=AT&T spins off WarnerMedia, combines it with Discovery|date=17 May 2021|first=Brian|last=Stelter|access-date=May 17, 2021|archive-date=May 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517124915/https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/17/media/warnermedia-discovery-deal/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
[[Electronic Arts]], which was a bidder in the proposed sale of Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment, purchased the mobile gaming studio Playdemic from WBIE for {{USD|1.4 billion}} in June 2021.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://deadline.com/2021/06/att-warnermedia-playdemic-mobile-game-studio-electronic-arts-1234780023/ | title = AT&T, WarnerMedia Sell Playdemic Mobile Game Studio To Electronic Arts For $1.4 Billion | first = Jill | last = Goldsmith | date = June 23, 2021 | access-date = June 23, 2021 | work = [[Deadline Hollywood]] | archive-date = March 31, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220331075838/https://deadline.com/2021/06/att-warnermedia-playdemic-mobile-game-studio-electronic-arts-1234780023/ | url-status = live }}</ref> | [[Electronic Arts]], which was a bidder in the proposed sale of Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment, purchased the mobile gaming studio Playdemic from WBIE for {{USD|1.4 billion}} in June 2021.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://deadline.com/2021/06/att-warnermedia-playdemic-mobile-game-studio-electronic-arts-1234780023/ | title = AT&T, WarnerMedia Sell Playdemic Mobile Game Studio To Electronic Arts For $1.4 Billion | first = Jill | last = Goldsmith | date = June 23, 2021 | access-date = June 23, 2021 | work = [[Deadline Hollywood]] | archive-date = March 31, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220331075838/https://deadline.com/2021/06/att-warnermedia-playdemic-mobile-game-studio-electronic-arts-1234780023/ | url-status = live }}</ref> | ||
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=== Aaron Slator controversy === | === Aaron Slator controversy === | ||
On April 28, 2015, AT&T announced that it had fired Aaron Slator, President of Content and Advertising Sales, for sending text messages critics described as racist.<ref>{{Cite news |title=AT&T Fires President Over Racist Text; $100M Lawsuit Goes On |work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/att-fires-president-racist-text-100m-lawsuit-30658834 |access-date=April 29, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150429063307/https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/att-fires-president-racist-text-100m-lawsuit-30658834 |archive-date=April 29, 2015}}</ref> African-American employee Knoyme King filed a $100 million defamation lawsuit against Slator.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Aaron Slator, AT&T president, fired over racist text messages |work=The Washington Times |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/apr/28/aaron-slator-t-president-fired-over-racist-text-me/ |url-status=live |access-date=April 29, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501202930/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/apr/28/aaron-slator-t-president-fired-over-racist-text-me/ |archive-date=May 1, 2015}}</ref> The day before that, protesters arrived at AT&T's headquarters in Dallas and its satellite offices in Los Angeles as well as at the home of CEO Randall Stephenson to protest alleged systemic racial policies. According to accounts, the protesters demanded that AT&T begin working with 100% black-owned media companies.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Protesters Picket AT&T CEO's Dallas Estate |work= | On April 28, 2015, AT&T announced that it had fired Aaron Slator, President of Content and Advertising Sales, for sending text messages critics described as racist.<ref>{{Cite news |title=AT&T Fires President Over Racist Text; $100M Lawsuit Goes On |work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/att-fires-president-racist-text-100m-lawsuit-30658834 |access-date=April 29, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150429063307/https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/att-fires-president-racist-text-100m-lawsuit-30658834 |archive-date=April 29, 2015}}</ref> African-American employee Knoyme King filed a $100 million defamation lawsuit against Slator.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Aaron Slator, AT&T president, fired over racist text messages |work=The Washington Times |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/apr/28/aaron-slator-t-president-fired-over-racist-text-me/ |url-status=live |access-date=April 29, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501202930/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/apr/28/aaron-slator-t-president-fired-over-racist-text-me/ |archive-date=May 1, 2015}}</ref> The day before that, protesters arrived at AT&T's headquarters in Dallas and its satellite offices in Los Angeles as well as at the home of CEO Randall Stephenson to protest alleged systemic racial policies. According to accounts, the protesters demanded that AT&T begin working with 100% black-owned media companies.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Protesters Picket AT&T CEO's Dallas Estate |work=CNN iReport |url=http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1237563 |url-status=live |access-date=May 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502002645/http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1237563 |archive-date=May 2, 2015}}</ref> | ||
On January 24, 2017, Slator sued AT&T in the [[Los Angeles County Superior Court|Los Angeles Superior Court]], accusing the company of [[defamation]] and wrongful termination. Slator had been involved in organizing AT&T's planned $48.5 billion acquisition of DirecTV since 2014, and he claimed that when news headlines speculated that his text messages could prevent the acquisition from going through, he was fired as a "scapegoat" by company executives. He also claimed that the executives had known about the text messages since at least late 2013, and had promised him at the time that he would not be fired for them.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Garrett |first=Arnessa |date=January 25, 2017 |title=AT&T sued by exec who was fired over racist text |work=The Dallas Morning News |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/business/local-companies/2017/01/25/att-sued-by-exec-who-was-fired-over-racist-text/ |access-date=May 20, 2020 |archive-date=July 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726102837/https://www.dallasnews.com/business/local-companies/2017/01/25/att-sued-by-exec-who-was-fired-over-racist-text/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Robb |first=David |date=January 24, 2017 |title=Former AT&T Content President Files Wrongful Termination Suit, Claims He Was Fired To Save DirecTV Merger |work=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]] |url=https://deadline.com/2017/01/lawsuit-attt-directv-aaron-slator-sues-for-wrongful-termination-1201892998/ |access-date=May 20, 2020 |archive-date=July 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726102611/https://deadline.com/2017/01/lawsuit-attt-directv-aaron-slator-sues-for-wrongful-termination-1201892998/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The company stood by its decision to terminate Slator.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.dallasnews.com/business/local-companies/2017/01/25/att-sued-by-exec-who-was-fired-over-racist-text/ |title= AT&T sued by exec who was fired over racist text |newspaper= [[The Dallas Morning News]] |date= January 24, 2017 |access-date= March 23, 2021 |quote= "Diversity and inclusion are important core values to us," the statement said. "We stand behind our decision to terminate Mr. Slator and are confident that his baseless allegations will ultimately be rejected." |archive-date= March 8, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210308145808/https://www.dallasnews.com/business/local-companies/2017/01/25/att-sued-by-exec-who-was-fired-over-racist-text/ |url-status= live }}</ref> | On January 24, 2017, Slator sued AT&T in the [[Los Angeles County Superior Court|Los Angeles Superior Court]], accusing the company of [[defamation]] and wrongful termination. Slator had been involved in organizing AT&T's planned $48.5 billion acquisition of DirecTV since 2014, and he claimed that when news headlines speculated that his text messages could prevent the acquisition from going through, he was fired as a "scapegoat" by company executives. He also claimed that the executives had known about the text messages since at least late 2013, and had promised him at the time that he would not be fired for them.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Garrett |first=Arnessa |date=January 25, 2017 |title=AT&T sued by exec who was fired over racist text |work=The Dallas Morning News |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/business/local-companies/2017/01/25/att-sued-by-exec-who-was-fired-over-racist-text/ |access-date=May 20, 2020 |archive-date=July 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726102837/https://www.dallasnews.com/business/local-companies/2017/01/25/att-sued-by-exec-who-was-fired-over-racist-text/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Robb |first=David |date=January 24, 2017 |title=Former AT&T Content President Files Wrongful Termination Suit, Claims He Was Fired To Save DirecTV Merger |work=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]] |url=https://deadline.com/2017/01/lawsuit-attt-directv-aaron-slator-sues-for-wrongful-termination-1201892998/ |access-date=May 20, 2020 |archive-date=July 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726102611/https://deadline.com/2017/01/lawsuit-attt-directv-aaron-slator-sues-for-wrongful-termination-1201892998/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The company stood by its decision to terminate Slator.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.dallasnews.com/business/local-companies/2017/01/25/att-sued-by-exec-who-was-fired-over-racist-text/ |title= AT&T sued by exec who was fired over racist text |newspaper= [[The Dallas Morning News]] |date= January 24, 2017 |access-date= March 23, 2021 |quote= "Diversity and inclusion are important core values to us," the statement said. "We stand behind our decision to terminate Mr. Slator and are confident that his baseless allegations will ultimately be rejected." |archive-date= March 8, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210308145808/https://www.dallasnews.com/business/local-companies/2017/01/25/att-sued-by-exec-who-was-fired-over-racist-text/ |url-status= live }}</ref> | ||
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=== One America News Network === | === One America News Network === | ||
An investigative report by [[Reuters]] in 2021 revealed that AT&T played a key role in creating, funding and sustaining [[One America News Network]] (OAN), a [[far-right]] TV network known for promoting [[conspiracy theories]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Special Report: How AT&T helped build far-right One America News|language=en|work=[[Reuters]]|url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-oneamerica-att/|access-date=2021-10-06|archive-date=October 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006235411/https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-oneamerica-att/|url-status=live}}</ref> According to 2020 sworn testimony by an OAN accountant, 90% of OAN's revenue came from AT&T. According to OAN founder [[Robert Herring (businessman)|Robert Herring Sr.]], AT&T wanted to create a conservative network to compete with [[Fox News]]. Court documents showed OAN promised to "cast a positive light" on AT&T during newscasts. AT&T denied the allegations.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Darcy|first=Oliver|date=October 7, 2021|title=AT&T played key role in founding of far-right conspiracy outlet OAN, channel's president said in court|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/06/media/att-oan/index.html|access-date=2021-10-22|website= | An investigative report by [[Reuters]] in 2021 revealed that AT&T played a key role in creating, funding and sustaining [[One America News Network]] (OAN), a [[far-right]] TV network known for promoting [[conspiracy theories]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Special Report: How AT&T helped build far-right One America News|language=en|work=[[Reuters]]|url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-oneamerica-att/|access-date=2021-10-06|archive-date=October 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006235411/https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-oneamerica-att/|url-status=live}}</ref> According to 2020 sworn testimony by an OAN accountant, 90% of OAN's revenue came from AT&T. According to OAN founder [[Robert Herring (businessman)|Robert Herring Sr.]], AT&T wanted to create a conservative network to compete with [[Fox News]]. Court documents showed OAN promised to "cast a positive light" on AT&T during newscasts. AT&T denied the allegations.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Darcy|first=Oliver|date=October 7, 2021|title=AT&T played key role in founding of far-right conspiracy outlet OAN, channel's president said in court|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/06/media/att-oan/index.html|access-date=2021-10-22|website=CNN|archive-date=October 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007103959/https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/06/media/att-oan/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=October 7, 2021 |first=Samira |last=Sadeque |title=AT&T funds rightwing channel One America News, Reuters reveals |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/oct/07/att-source-revenue-one-america-news |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=July 8, 2022 |archive-date=July 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708012355/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/oct/07/att-source-revenue-one-america-news |url-status=live }}</ref> Comedian [[John Oliver]] criticized AT&T in his weekly show for funding OAN.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Stern|first=Marlow|date=2021-10-11|title=John Oliver Torches His AT&T Bosses Over OAN Reveal: 'You Make the World Worse'|language=en|work=[[The Daily Beast]]|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/john-oliver-torches-his-atandt-bosses-over-oan-reveal-you-make-the-world-worse|access-date=2021-10-18|archive-date=October 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011124418/https://www.thedailybeast.com/john-oliver-torches-his-atandt-bosses-over-oan-reveal-you-make-the-world-worse|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
=== Leaking data to Wall Street === | === Leaking data to Wall Street === | ||