FCC Said to Oppose EchoStar Deal

EchoStar Communications Corp.’s planned $23-billion purchase of satellite television rival DirecTV faces rejection by the Federal Communications Commission, people familiar with the matter said.

Agency officials concluded that the combination would reduce consumer choice, and the four commissioners probably will vote this month on the staff recommendation to oppose the transaction, the sources said. Government antitrust enforcers also are preparing to ask the Justice Department to challenge the purchase, sources said.