http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Apple-ATT-Rumored-As-Possible-Buyers-of-Time-Warner-136066
Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes says the company isn't keen on spinning off or selling HBO, but it would consider a sale of Time Warner itself to the right suitor. According to the New York Post, Bewkes made the comments in a series of closed-door meetings with investors on Monday. Names being bandied about as potential buyers of the giant media empire include Amazon, AT&T and Apple.
The Post claims Apple is particularly interested, as an acquisition could help fuel the company's perpetually stalled video streaming service stuck in neutral thanks to broadcaster licensing disputes:quote:Apple is eyeing Time Warner’s assets to ease the launch of a stand-alone streaming TV service, a senior tech insider suggested on Tuesday. Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple has struggled to create a skinny bundle of programming from existing content partners. A deal with Time Warner would give Apple most of what it needs: CNN news, Turner Sports and such hugely popular shows as “Game of Thrones” and “Sesame Street” from HBO — not to mention Warner Bros. movies and TV shows.Granted broadband companies like AT&T and Verizon shouldn't be ruled out. Facing slowed broadband growth and declining TV revenues, many broadband ISPs have been jumping into the content business to grow further, as exemplified by Verizon's $4.4 billion acquisition of AOL, and Comcast's $500 million investment in Buzzfeed and Vox. AT&T and Verizon are names that have also been tossed around as potential suitors for Yahoo.
Acquiring Time Warner would be one way for broadband ISPs and cable operators to control HBO's disruptive over the top impact on their legacy TV empires.
Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes says the company isn't keen on spinning off or selling HBO, but it would consider a sale of Time Warner itself to the right suitor. According to the New York Post, Bewkes made the comments in a series of closed-door meetings with investors on Monday. Names being bandied about as potential buyers of the giant media empire include Amazon, AT&T and Apple.
The Post claims Apple is particularly interested, as an acquisition could help fuel the company's perpetually stalled video streaming service stuck in neutral thanks to broadcaster licensing disputes:quote:Apple is eyeing Time Warner’s assets to ease the launch of a stand-alone streaming TV service, a senior tech insider suggested on Tuesday. Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple has struggled to create a skinny bundle of programming from existing content partners. A deal with Time Warner would give Apple most of what it needs: CNN news, Turner Sports and such hugely popular shows as “Game of Thrones” and “Sesame Street” from HBO — not to mention Warner Bros. movies and TV shows.Granted broadband companies like AT&T and Verizon shouldn't be ruled out. Facing slowed broadband growth and declining TV revenues, many broadband ISPs have been jumping into the content business to grow further, as exemplified by Verizon's $4.4 billion acquisition of AOL, and Comcast's $500 million investment in Buzzfeed and Vox. AT&T and Verizon are names that have also been tossed around as potential suitors for Yahoo.
Acquiring Time Warner would be one way for broadband ISPs and cable operators to control HBO's disruptive over the top impact on their legacy TV empires.