Malone: DirecTV would be "compatible" with a telco

Liberty Media's chairman John Malone said on Thursday that DirecTV Group would be "compatible" with a telephone company if either of its current partners showed an interest in buying it. Malone was speaking to shareholders at a special meeting where the split-off of DirecTV was approved. The split-off of DirecTV to combine it with some of its Liberty Entertainment assets will create a new, larger independent DirecTV. This has led to Wall Street expectation that DirecTV will eventually be bought by either AT&T or Verizon Communications. DirecTV, the No. 1 U.S. satellite TV operator, has long-term marketing relationships with both phone companies to offer customers bundles of video, phone and Internet services.