AT&T vs T-Mobile

US Cable TV Shutdowns: 30+ Channels Closed Since 2020

Since 2020, the American cable TV industry has experienced a steady contraction as viewers migrate to streaming platforms. At least 30 distinct U.S. cable and regional sports channels have permanently shut down or ended regular programming between 2020 and late 2026. Notable closures include NBC Sports Network (NBCSN), ESPN Classic, G4, Universal Kids, HBO Family, Cinemax multiplex channels, Pac-12 Networks, Longhorn Network, and the FanDuel Sports Network portfolio. The closures accelerated after the pandemic and cord-cutting, with sports channels especially vulnerable. Operators cited falling subscriber numbers, rising content costs, and the preference for on-demand streaming as decisive factors. Regional sports networks accounted for a large share of losses, leading to greater fragmentation of local sports viewing. More shutdowns are expected as rumors suggest additional closures.

• More than 30 U.S. cable TV channels have shut down since 2020.
• NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) ceased operations on December 31, 2021.
• HBO Family and Cinemax multiplex channels (ThrillerMax, MovieMax, OuterMax) stopped on August 15, 2025.

AT&T Partners with OpenAI to Scale Legal Knowledge

AT&T's legal department is partnering with OpenAI to build a knowledge layer that makes legal expertise more accessible across the company. The collaboration builds on LegalEdge, AT&T's AI-focused legal team, and aims to improve intake processes by using natural language processing to classify and prioritize requests, connect them with relevant precedent, and provide lawyers with historical context. The initiative is led by David McAtee, AT&T's General Counsel, and Bill Ryan, Chief Compliance Officer. The goal is to enable lawyers to deliver legal judgment at greater scale, while ensuring that decision-making remains with the attorneys.

• AT&T is partnering with OpenAI to build a knowledge layer for its legal department.
• The collaboration builds on LegalEdge, AT&T's AI-focused legal team.
• An intake system with natural language processing will classify and prioritize requests.

AT&T adds record 769K internet customers in Q3 2026

AT&T reported a record quarter for internet subscriber growth, adding 769,000 total consumer and business Advanced Connectivity internet net customers in Q3 2026. The gains were driven by 442,000 fiber additions and 327,000 fixed wireless additions (5G Home Internet), marking the company's strongest internet net-add performance. As of September 30, 2026, AT&T's total internet connections reached 16.248 million, including 13.310 million fiber and 2.938 million fixed wireless. Fiber network reach exceeded 39 million locations, on track to surpass 40 million by end of 2026. Advanced Home Internet revenue rose 23.4% year-over-year to $2.975 billion. The company raised its full-year 2026 adjusted EPS outlook and continues to target mid-single-digit growth in Advanced Connectivity service revenue, supported by fiber expansion and fixed wireless adoption.

• AT&T added 769,000 net internet customers in Q3 2026, a record.
• Growth driven by 442,000 fiber additions and 327,000 fixed wireless additions.
• Total internet connections reached 16.248 million as of Sept 30, 2026.

10-Q Financial Filing Analysis for T-Mobile (2026-10-28)

T-Mobile US, Inc. reported solid financial performance for Q3 2026, with total revenues rising 7% year-over-year to $23.58 billion, driven by a 9% increase in postpaid service revenues to $16.27 billion and a 13% expansion in equipment revenues to $3.93 billion. Operating income surged 25% to $5.66 billion, and net income increased 27% to $3.46 billion, supported by ongoing integration synergies following the UScellular acquisition and steady postpaid ARPA growth of 4% to $155.73. The company maintained aggressive capital returns under its upsized $18.2 billion 2026 Stockholder Return Program, repurchasing $2.4 billion of common stock and paying $1.1 billion in dividends during the quarter.

• Q3 2026 total revenues reached $23.584 billion, up 7.4% year-over-year, while net income rose 27.3% to $3.455 billion ($3.22 diluted EPS).
• Completed the sale of 800 MHz spectrum licenses to Grain Management on August 10, 2026, generating $2.9 billion in cash proceeds and $690 million in 600 MHz spectrum licenses.
• Stockholder capital returns under the upsized $18.2 billion 2026 authorization included 13.62 million shares repurchased for $2.4 billion and $1.089 billion in cash dividends paid during Q3 2026.

T-Mobile Opens Up on Its Cybersecurity Transformation in New Report

T-Mobile published a new report on its cybersecurity transformation, and also announced a next-generation creative ecosystem, a new 5 Gig fiber plan with a 10-year price guarantee, and emergency network response to Colorado flooding.

IAB Raises 2026 U.S. Ad Spend Forecast to +12.3% YoY Growth, as Strong First Half Lifts Expectations

This merged summary covers two topics: the IAB's optimistic ad spend forecast and a strategy for using carrier data to enhance audience targeting. IAB raises its 2026 U.S. ad spend forecast to +12.3% YoY growth, citing a strong first half, and announces new releases like 'Measuring Visibility in the AI Era' and IAB Global Creator Week. Separately, an article discusses how media planners can uncover new customer segments by leveraging carrier data, such as T-Mobile's, to combine mobile app activity with real-world movement patterns. This approach goes beyond traditional category-specific signals, revealing valuable prospects across broader categories. T-Mobile data shows users of a food delivery app overindex on streaming, fantasy sports, expectant parents, and college students. Platforms like Blis and Vistar Media use such observed, deterministic data to model and activate audiences across CTV, audio, mobile, and DOOH, especially as identity restrictions grow. The article poses key questions for planners to evaluate reach and incremental performance.

• IAB raises its 2026 U.S. ad spend forecast to +12.3% YoY growth.
• T-Mobile carrier data shows users of a food delivery app are 57% more likely to also use Gopuff.
• The same audience is 45% more likely to be heavy streamers.