AT&T’s Bold Content-Driven Moves

AT&T is determined not to be “just a carrier” anymore -- and is making bold content-driven moves to underscore that point.

Obviously, its new $49 billion mega-deal with satellite provider -- and increasingly original-content driven company -- DirecTV is a deal that will have significant reverberations among many.  Verizon anyone?  Echostar?  DirecTV has a massive footprint/platform, of course, of its own to distribute compelling and differentiated content (NFL Sunday Ticket anyone?).  DirecTV also quietly has gotten into the HBO-like “original programming production” game -- featuring exclusive premium long-form video that can’t be found anywhere else.

That’s premium long-form video content.  But, let’s also not forget AT&T’s surprising $500 million premium short-form video development-driven venture with The Chernin Group, a deal announced just one month ago.  The deal includes integration of leading anime-focused MCN CrunchyRoll.  MCN “bite-sized” premium v

And, earlier this year, Dr. Dre’s Beats Music launched with AT&T in a massive distribution deal -- again, all about content -- and now Dre looks to become a billionaire via his acquisition by Apple (which likely will be announced at some point this week).

Bold bold moves.

And bold bold moves beget bold bold moves by others.

Exciting times in the world of “content meets technology."