DIRECTV SEES 35% GAIN IN SUBS; MALONE STILL LOVES LIBERTY

          U.S. satellite TV operators had a "banner year" as they
     "added more than 2.4 million subscribers" in '98 and are
     "aggressively seeking to add more," according to Greg Wiles
     of the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES.  DirecTV saw an increase in
     subscribers of 35% to 4.5 million, while Primestar was up
     18% to 2.3 million.  Echostar Communications gained 1.9
     million subscribers, up 87% (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 1/10).
          LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF STOCK EARNINGS: AT&T,
     despite an initial merger agreement with TCI, will not
     "issue a new stock to track the combined company's consumer
     operations."  The TV programming unit Liberty Media Group,
     run by TCI Chair John C. Malone, will still "be issued its
     own tracking stock" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/9).  DAILY VARIETY's
     Martin Peers reports that Malone will have "virtually
     absolute control" of Liberty (DAILY VARIETY, 1/11).