Comcast Moves Forward on Time Warner Bid

[onehandle]

Source: Philadelphia Magazine

Comcast’s desire to join Charter Communications in acquiring the Time-Warner cable system—or, at least, some of T-W’s premium markets—is moving the talking stage. Multiple outlets are reporting that the Philly-based multimedia conglomerate has retained Barclays as an adviser on the deal. Reuters reports: “Comcast, the top U.S. cable company, hired Barclays late last year to review its deal options, along with JPMorgan Chase & Co, which it had earlier tapped for advice, the people said. … In a successful deal, banks advising Charter would split roughly $74 million to $92 million in advisory fees while Time Warner Cable’s advisers could reap $81 million to $101 million, according to preliminary estimates by consulting firm Freeman & Co LLC.” Nice gig, as they say, if you can get it.

Read more: http://www.phillymag.com/news/2014/01/22/comcast-moves-forward-time-warner-bid

[Auggie]

1. Bad news. We need more cable systems, not fewer.

[thesquanderer]

5. It doesn't matter.

Few if any people have a choice of cable carriers anyway. So there's no effective difference in the market regardless of whether this happens or not.

[Auggie]

7. Isn't that reason why we need more?

[thesquanderer]

8. More doesn't help...

...unless they find a way to change things so that more than one can service a particular community.

[Dustlawyer]

2. K&R!!! On what planet does this further media consolidation not get quashed?

The FCC is totally owned by BIG MEDIA!!!

[blackspade]

3. I guess this is what the judges last week called 'choice'....

When they made their Ruling against the FCC.

[allan01]

4. re:Comcast Moves Forward on Time Warner Bid

there goes my cable bill . comcast exppenses have gone up. extended and just reegular basic is aroun70 $ . i am paing 38$ what will there excuse be this time ? last time they bught nbc whcih is owned by ge and comcast was started by nbc and ge . so they bought themselves . hmm

[Loudly]

6. Paging Senator Franken. Paging Senator Franken. n/t

[littlewolf]

9. well looks like I will be getting Directv. nt

[NewJeffCT]

10. Is Comcast going to be the only one in a few years?

what other major players are left if this goes through?

[A Simple Game]

11. I think it is time to get serious about splitting up the carrier and provider

parts of the cable companies. It will be the only way to get competition into the mix. One company provides access and you have your choice of providers and or even just channels.

[mwooldri]

12. Agreed!

I'd argue for a well regulated, government backed, regional fiber-to-the-home network infrastructure company. With the aim of getting a fiber connection to every home - rural and urban. Present day cable and wire-line phone companies would have to change to sell something over the fiber instead. The copper telephone cables could also be moved under this company, allowing any company to sell old style phone and DSL services without going through the local monopoly provider.