AT&T Inc.’s (NYSE: T) first-quarter revenues disappointed Wall Street analysts on Wednesday after it lost subscribers in nearly all of its main businesses besides wireless. The key reason behind this is that the pay-TV subscriber base of AT&T kept decrease during the first quarter, adding pressure on the telecom and media giant’s project to develop a new streaming service aimed at cord-cutters.
It is reported that AT&T lost a net of 544,000 premium TV subscribers, a category that includes DirecTV satellite and U-verse television customers. Meanwhile, DirecTV Now, AT&T’s streaming service, lost 83,000 subscribers, more than analysts’ expectation of 82,000 losses. According to research firm FactSet, analysts expected a loss of 385,000 customers across DirecTV and U-verse.
According to CNBC report, net income attributable to AT&T fell to USD 4.1 Billion, or 56 cents per share, from USD 4.66 Billion, or 75 cents per share, a year earlier. Excluding items, the Company earned 86 cents per share, in line with estimates. What’s more, total revenue rose nearly 18% to USD 44.83 Billion but fell short of expectations of USD 45.11 Billion.
"Altogether, AT&T's collection of assets remains challenged," Jonathan Chaplin, an analyst with New Street Research, said in a note on Wednesday. AT&T's business wireline segment saw declines in the top and bottom line, and even WarnerMedia trends "were just okay," Chaplin wrote.
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