Venezuela orders seizure of DirectTV property

Venezuela's high court ordered the immediate seizure of all DirecTV property on Friday, days after the US firm abandoned its services in the South American nation, citing US sanctions.

The Supreme Court ruling told the nation's telecommunications agency to seize satellite dishes and office space at transmission centers.

It also said that DirecTV programming should immediately return to the airwaves.

The Dallas-based AT&T on Tuesday suddenly cut off pay TV services in Venezuela, saying US sanctions prohibit its DirecTV platform from broadcasting channels that it is required to carry by the administration of socialist President Nicolás Maduro.

By cutting DirecTV services, AT&T joins other US companies that have abandoned Venezuela due to shrinking sales, government threats and the risk of US sanctions, including General Motors, Kellogg Co and Kimberly Clark.

Around 700 Venezuelans depended on the unit for employment.