Business

Comcast, one of the biggest cable providers in the United States, is looking to sell Smart TVs in Walmart as they seek to expand their video streaming platform.

If a deal is made between the two parties, Walmart will sell TV sets with  Comcast’s software installed on it that would allow users to switch between various streaming apps (think Roku or Apple TV). The New York Post is reporting that the TV sets would be manufactured by a 3rd party and could have Walmart’s branding on it. It is important to note that Comcast owns NBC which also has the new Peacock streaming app.

Comcast’s CEO Brian Roberts hinted at wanting to get into selling TVs in September’s conference call. Roberts said the company was “looking at smart TVs on a global basis.” Launching a smart TV would add competition to Roku and Amazon Fire Stick.

“We’re constantly having conversations with current and new suppliers about innovation and new products we can bring to our customers, and we don’t share details of those discussions,” Ryan Peterson, vice president of electronics at Walmart US, told the Journal.

AT&T is in talks with major private-equity firms to sell a minority share of their television provider, DirecTV. CNBC is reporting that there are a number of private-equity firms in talks to buy those minority shares. Apollo Management is one of the firms in talks to buy the shares. According to the report, the sale would also include AT&T Uverse and AT&T Now.

A valuation for DirecTV has not been determined but the report from CNBC claims that DirecTV is  worth “less than $15 billion.” The New York Post reported that AT&T fielded “lowballs offers” of “well below $20 billion.” As part of the sale, AT&T would transfer the assets off their balance sheets.

According to the NY Post. DirecTV has been “hemorrhagin subscribers” and has been one of the main focus points for AT&T to unload.

“AT&T is trying to do something very hard,” MoffettNathanson analyst Craig Moffett said, “They have to manage a portfolio of declining businesses by slashing their costs, while still not hurting their cash generation prospects too badly, while simultaneously finding a way to sustain a dividend, pay down debt enough to placate rating agencies, and, all the while, invest in the few growth areas they’ve got that are worthy (wireless, HBO Max, and fiber-based broadband).”