Posted: Tue, Oct 8, 2002, 6:36 AM ET (1036 GMT)
Concerned that the federal government will nix its proposed merger, satellite television providers EchoStar and DirecTV are proposing major concessions to try and keep the merger alive, Reuters reported Monday. In a letter submitted to the FCC, the two companies said they were in negotiations with antitrust regulators in the Department of Justice and were willing to make "major revisions" to the proposed merger. Those revisions could include divesting some assets, such as satellites and/or orbital slots. Cablevision, a cable television company that has proposed developing its own direct-to-home (DTH) satellite television system, has said it would not oppose the merger if it won some satellite slots from the merged company. The letter was seen as an effort to stall an FCC ruling on the proposed merger, which had been rumored to be released as soon as this week. EchoStar and DirecTV executives plan to meet with Justice Department officials late this month.

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•  Reuters article