at&t Future - Merge with Time Warner?

[Drucifer]

AT&T Discussed Idea of Takeover in Time Warner Meetings

by ED HAMMOND, ALEX SHERMAN, & SCOTT MORITZ; Bloomberg

Senior executives at AT&T Inc. and Time Warner Inc. have met in recent weeks to discuss various business strategies including a possible merger, according to people familiar with the matter.

. . . .

READ MORE

 

[Big Dawg 23]

Not surprised. They want to compete with Comcast and its takeover of NBC Universal

 

[Zashel]

what happened to charter/time warner/ brighthouse?

 

[osu1991]

what happened to charter/time warner/ brighthouse?

Nothing, it is all part of Charter now. Time Warner Inc the media company (HBO, TBS,TNT etc) and Time Warner Cable were separate entities.

 

[Bruce]

And sold to ATT, now off to the Feds it goes

http://deadline.com/2016/10/time-warner-sale-att-suggests-distribution-king-over-content-1201840635/

The telco has agreed to pay about $85 billion, or about $110 a share, Reuters says. AT&T — which controls 26% of U.S. video subscribers at DirecTV and U-verse, and is the No. 2 wireless provider — would pick up channels including CNN, TNT, TBS, and HBO as well as Warner Bros.


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[goaliebob99]

I agree with this move. It will keep costs down in the future by giving ATT another bargaining chip when it comes to negotiations, cheap content and exclusive access to content. I can see HBO 4K now launching on DirecTV as well as other channels. I really like the move and think it was necessary to compete in the marketplace level ATT wants to. Heck, maybe I can do a lateral transfer as an ATT employee to go work for CNN or HBO! I don't see the FTC denying this one as thanks to the Comcast merger with NBC Universal.

 

[Troch77]

I agree with this move. It will keep costs down in the future by giving ATT another bargaining chip when it comes to negotiations, cheap content and exclusive access to content. I can see HBO 4K now launching on DirecTV as well as other channels. I really like the move and think it was necessary to compete in the marketplace level ATT wants to. Heck, maybe I can do a lateral transfer as an ATT employee to go work for CNN or HBO! I don't see the FTC denying this one as thanks to the Comcast merger with NBC Universal.

I guess I better start looking back at Directv.
Sounds like lots of good options may be in store for the future.
Hopefully costs will stay in check.
The more content they own , you would think they could charge the customer less, while they make more by cutting out the middle man.

 

[DWS44]

you would think they could charge the customer less

Vs. enjoying even larger company profits? AT&T? Seriously?

 

[docdaddy]

So - does this mean ATT will start charging Dish a ton for the channels it now owns?

 

[Zashel]

given Dish's tendency toward channel disputes, AT&T will probably raise the prices just to get Dish to have prolonged negotiations to get people to switch.

 

[Don in CT]

given Dish's tendency toward channel disputes, AT&T will probably raise the prices just to get Dish to have prolonged negotiations to get people to switch.

I would bet that would get a few antitrust lawsuits going.

 

[dishcomm]

And sold to ATT, now off to the Feds it goes

http://deadline.com/2016/10/time-warner-sale-att-suggests-distribution-king-over-content-1201840635/

The telco has agreed to pay about $85 billion, or about $110 a share, Reuters says. AT&T — which controls 26% of U.S. video subscribers at DirecTV and U-verse, and is the No. 2 wireless provider — would pick up channels including CNN, TNT, TBS, and HBO as well as Warner Bros.


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I think the FCC will nix this deal. It simply puts too much control over a wide variety of content.
Should this go through, I must ask, what would stop AT&T from holding their stable of services hostage and demanding exorbitant rates from competing providers? Answer. Nothing.
I am so over the merger mania and consolidation of once former competing companies. Because when the dirt comes out of the wash, it is we the consumer which is told to bend over and drop their shorts.
So here's us....

 

[dishcomm]

I agree with this move. It will keep costs down in the future by giving ATT another bargaining chip when it comes to negotiations, cheap content and exclusive access to content. I can see HBO 4K now launching on DirecTV as well as other channels. I really like the move and think it was necessary to compete in the marketplace level ATT wants to. Heck, maybe I can do a lateral transfer as an ATT employee to go work for CNN or HBO! I don't see the FTC denying this one as thanks to the Comcast merger with NBC Universal.

Costs down . Prices UP.....AT&T will have ALL of the chips. They won't have to bargain with anyone. The will have the power to say "pay this price or kiss your HBO goodbye.".....

 

[dishcomm]

I agree with this move. It will keep costs down in the future by giving ATT another bargaining chip when it comes to negotiations, cheap content and exclusive access to content. I can see HBO 4K now launching on DirecTV as well as other channels. I really like the move and think it was necessary to compete in the marketplace level ATT wants to. Heck, maybe I can do a lateral transfer as an ATT employee to go work for CNN or HBO! I don't see the FTC denying this one as thanks to the Comcast merger with NBC Universal.

Or as in the article in fiercecable.com, the FCC will deny the move because of the Comcast/NBC deal..In that article which can be found at the aforementioned site,. the FCC s not too pleased with the outcome of that deal and is loathe to permit any similar deals in the future.
Found the story.
Here ya go....
http://www.fiercecable.com/cable/at...out-time-warner-inc-reportedly-informal-talks

 

[gadgtfreek]

Lotta this going on in this thread

 

[whitewolf8214]

They are saying by hearing on tv and reading it may not get approved and say they may try to undo the Comcast deal but we will see and see how many others try to get deals done before the next president gets sworn in

 

[Drucifer]

 

[goaliebob99]

Or as in the article in fiercecable.com, the FCC will deny the move because of the Comcast/NBC deal..In that article which can be found at the aforementioned site,. the FCC s not too pleased with the outcome of that deal and is loathe to permit any similar deals in the future.
Found the story.
Here ya go....
http://www.fiercecable.com/cable/at...out-time-warner-inc-reportedly-informal-talks

ATT has a strong lobbying group that can convince the FCC to approve this. Keep in mind that this is not the overtake of a competitor but acquisition of media assets that expands those assets ATT already owns such as Root Sports and The Audience Network. The actual cable systems part was already sold off.


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[Troch77]

Costs down . Prices UP.....AT&T will have ALL of the chips. They won't have to bargain with anyone. The will have the power to say "pay this price or kiss your HBO goodbye.".....

And a lot of good that would do.
Customers will just go somewhere else.
Or not subscribe at all.

Hey nothing was ever stopping Dish from buying networks.
The company that bitches up a storm about how its poor customers pay too much, boo hoo hoo, Yet dish doesn't drop a dime on anything but lawsuits, useless spectrum, And pay more for less packages.

 

[patmurphey]

I suspect that the FCC will require the same arbitration as Comcast for content with other providers as a condition of the merger so that they can't blackmail other outlets to benefit DTV's competitive position.