(Reuters) – AT&T Inc (NYSE:)’s quarterly revenue and monthly phone bill paying subscriber additions beat market expectations on Thursday, on increased demand for its phone and internet service and steady growth for its streaming platform HBO Max.

Due to DirectTV’s divestment, total revenue dropped 5.7% to $39.9billion in the third quarter. It was still higher than the average analyst estimate of $39.14 trillion.

Telecom operators, including AT&T and Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE:) has been reorganizing media companies to focus their investments on internet and phone services.

With a debt pile of $179.2 billion as of Sept. 30, AT&T too has been under pressure to sell less profitable businesses and spend more on 5G and other wireless services.

The wireless company has added 928 000 net subscribers to its network, exceeding the 560,000 expected quarterly payments, according data from FactSet.

Verizon, a rival carrier, added 429,000 customers in the most recent quarter.

In order to compete and expand, media companies also invest heavily in international expansion and content.

While streaming services have been grappling with slowing subscriptions, AT&T added 12.5 million subscribers globally for its premium TV channel HBO and streaming service HBO Max as viewers flocked to titles like “White Lotus”, and “The Suicide Squad”.

The net income from the common stock increased to $5.9Billion, or 82cs per share in the third quarter. This is up from $2.8B, or 39cs per share, one year ago.

Excluding items, AT&T earned 87 cents per share.