As I recall, there was such talk before, but it's heating-up even more this time around...
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-26/dish-s-ergen-said-to-approach-directv-ceo-white-about-merger.html
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-26/dish-s-ergen-said-to-approach-directv-ceo-white-about-merger.html