Nov. 19 (Bloomberg) -- DirecTV Group Inc. Chairman John Malone won’t rule out a possible takeover by AT&T Inc. or Verizon Communications Inc., saying they will likely have closer ties to his company as they develop packages of phone and television service.

“Our relationship will continue to broaden and intensify,” Malone, 68, said today in an interview. “It may lead to some more ownership-oriented relationship, or it may not.” DirecTV already offers pay-TV service to some Web and phone customers of AT&T and Verizon, the biggest U.S. carriers.

DirecTV, the largest U.S. satellite-TV provider, simplified a potential takeover bid by agreeing to merge with Malone’s Liberty Entertainment unit, a move that cut his voting stake in half. The companies expect the deal to close by year-end, clearing the path for a potential acquisition.

Analysts such as Chris Marangi of Gabelli & Co. in Rye, New York, have speculated that a phone company could potentially buy DirecTV for its TV product. AT&T and Verizon have added more features as they vie for customers with cable operators such as Comcast Corp., which offer packages that include phone, TV and Internet service.

DirecTV has about 18 million customers, more than six times Verizon’s FiOS TV service and 10 times AT&T’s U-Verse TV service. Buying DirecTV would give the phone companies instant scale, Marangi said.

‘Makes Sense’

“A merger makes sense,” Marangi said. “It would allow either AT&T or Verizon to offer a national video product, a product Malone thinks they want.”

Eric Rabe, a spokesman for New York-based Verizon, declined to comment on a potential acquisition. Verizon sells DirecTV service where FiOS isn’t available and has a good relationship with the company, he said. While there is nothing to announce today, Verizon has been working to add wireless service to bundles of TV, Internet and phone service, he said.

AT&T spokesman Michael Coe declined to comment on any expansion of a relationship with DirecTV.

Shareholders of El Segundo, California-based DirecTV approved the Liberty transaction in a vote on the merger today, spokesman Robert Mercer said. Liberty shareholders also approved the merger today.

Yesterday, DirecTV named PepsiCo Inc.’s Michael White as its next chief executive officer to strengthen the company’s brand amid escalating competition from cable and the Web.

DirecTV rose 46 cents to $31.50 at 4 p.m. New York time in Nasdaq Stock Market trading. The shares have gained 37 percent this year. AT&T, based in Dallas, dropped 20 cents to $26.11 in New York Stock Exchange composite trading, while Verizon fell 14 cents to $30.52.

To contact the reporter on this story: Kelly Riddell in Washington at kriddell1@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: November 19, 2009 16:23 EST