AT&T Inc. is in talks to spin off its media business and merge it with Discovery Inc. in a blockbuster entertainment deal, according to people with knowledge of the matter, a surprising move for a company that spent $85 billion to acquire the assets less than three years ago.
The idea is to combine Discovery’s reality-TV empire with AT&T’s vast media holdings, building a business that would be a formidable competitor to Netflix Inc. and Walt Disney Co.
The companies are still negotiating the structure of a transaction, and details could change or the talks could fall apart, sources said. Representatives for AT&T and Discovery declined to comment.
Retirement community eyed at closed school
A nonprofit senior housing agency has plans to build a retirement community at a now-closed Catholic school in Worcester.
Goddard/Homestead, which operates independent living facilities and a rest home in the area, is seeking a special permit to operate a continuing care retirement community at the campus of St. Peter-Marian High School, The Telegram & Gazette reported.
The school merged last year with Holy Name High School to become St. Paul Diocesan Junior/Senior High School.
The plan calls for the demolition of the main school building to make way for a 145-unit, over-55 continuing care retirement community.