Microsoft Is Interested In Acquiring Warner Bros. Gaming Unit

According to a new report from The Information, Microsoft is interested in bidding on Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, which is currently a division of AT&T. From a report: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, or WB Games, is known for publishing the “Batman: Arkham” series, “Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor,” many “Lego” and “Harry Potter” games, “Mortal Kombat,” and “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.”…

Charter Seeks FCC Permission to Impose Data Caps and Charge Fees to Video Services

“Charter Communications has asked federal regulators for permission to impose data caps on broadband users and to seek interconnection payments from large online video providers, starting next year,” writes Ars Technica. Long-time Slashdot reader Proudrooster shares their report:
Charter, unlike other ISPs, isn’t allowed to impose data caps and faces limits on charges for interconnection payments because of conditions applied to its…

AT&T’s Randall Stephenson To Retire As CEO

AT&T Chief Executive Randall Stephenson said he will retire at the end of June (Warning: source paywalled; alternative source), handing leadership of one of the world’s largest media and telecommunications companies to longtime deputy John Stankey. The Wall Street Journal reports: Mr. Stephenson, who turned 60 this week, has spent most of his 13 years as chairman and CEO piecing together…

Charter’s Spectrum Kills Home Security Business, Refuses Refunds on Now-Worthless Equipment

Charter Comunications’ Spectrum cable service includes a home security service, and — whoops. No it doesn’t. “Spectrum customers who are also users of the company’s home security service are about a month away from being left with a pile of useless equipment that in many cases cost them hundreds of dollars,” reports Gizmodo:
On February 5, Spectrum will no longer support customers…

AT&T To Sell Puerto Rico Business As It Looks To Pay Down Debt

According to The Wall Street Journal, AT&T has agreed to sell its Puerto Rican and U.S. Virgin Islands businesses to Liberty Latin America for $1.95 billion in cash (Warning: source paywalled, alternative source), “allowing the telecommunications giant to shave its debt load and move closer to repurchasing shares.” From the report: AT&T’s operation in Puerto Rico provides cellular, landline and internet…

AT&T Explores Parting Ways With DirecTV

According to The Wall Street Journal, AT&T is exploring parting with its DirecTV unit as customers are leaving the service in droves. From the report: The telecom giant has considered various options, including a spinoff of DirecTV into a separate public company and a combination of DirecTV’s assets with Dish Network, its satellite-TV rival, the people said. AT&T may ultimately decide…