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Echostar in for DirecTV?
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March 21, 2001: 6:26 p.m. ET
No. 2 U.S. satellite broadcaster reportedly interested in its larger rival
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - No. 2 U.S. satellite broadcaster Echostar Communications is making a play for No. 1 DirecTV, a published report said Wednesday.
According to the Financial Times Web site, Echostar Chairman Charles Ergin inquired about a deal as talks between DirecTV and Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. seemed to be stalled, but the offer was rebuffed.
 Last week News Corp. (NWS: Research, Estimates) was reportedly ready to walk away from its plan to merge its satellite operations with Hughes Electronics Corp.'s (GMH: Research, Estimates) DirecTV amid a struggle over control of the proposed combination.
News Corp. spokesman Andrew Butcher said, "We're still hopeful for a deal with DirecTV but we are looking at other options as well."
Echostar (DISH: Research, Estimates) refused to comment about a possible deal but said the synergies between the companies "would be great," FT.com said.
But while investors may see the deal as a perfect match, there could be antitrust issues with the top two satellite broadcasters combining, the paper reported. 
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