DirecTV could help turn AT&T into a media streaming superpower

That’s one of the most important questions people in Hollywood should consider now that the FCC and Justice Department are poised to give a green light to AT&T’s $48.5 billion deal to buy DirecTV. There’s a free-for-all as companies strive to connect with the fast-growing ranks of consumers who watch TV shows, movies and other content on their smartphones and tablets — especially as Nielsen measures those views. Verizon plans to launch a streaming service by the end of this summer. Dish Network recently introduced Sling TV and is amassing wireless licenses to build — well, it’s not clear yet what CEO Charlie Ergen has in mind. And the cable guys are trying to figure out what they can do with their patchwork of public Wi-Fi hot spots. AT&T can muscle its way to the head of that chaotic pack. It had 12.6 million wireless broadband customers at the end of March and 6 million homes receiving video from U-verse’s wired service. With DirecTV, it picks up 20.4 million homes that depend on the No. 1 satellite service for video.