AT&T Eyeing a Bid for DirecTV?

AT&T is exploring the prospects of buying the satellite TV provider DirecTV in a deal that could be worth $40 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The WSJ cites a source familiar with the situation who says that DirecTV is "open" to the possibility of deal, though it is unclear whether talks are under way.

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) would be stepping right on Dish Network LLC (Nasdaq: DISH)'s toes if it managed to snap up DirecTV. Successive Dish CEOs have said that a Dish-DirecTV merger is possible. (See Dish CEO: DirecTV Merger Possible.)

Any deal proposed would, of course, be subject to big-time regulatory scrutiny.

DirecTV's stock was buoyed by the M&A chatter, rising $4.14 (or 5.36%) to $81.75 as of Thursday afternoon. AT&T dropped 25 cents to $35.45.

— Dan Jones, Mobile Editor, Light Reading