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DOJ May Block Comcast Deal, Insiders Claim

Staff attorneys at the Justice Department’s antitrust division are nearing a recommendation to block Comcast's $45 billion acquisition of Time Warner Cable, "people familiar with the matter" claim to Bloomberg News. The lawyers could submit their findings to the DOJ as early as next week, with DOJ officials announcing the blocked deal sometime this month. The sources claim the lawyers have been reaching for outside advice to cement arguments against the deal and that the DOJ hasn't been negotiating conditions with Comcast -- which would be the case if the deal was close to approval:

quote:
The Justice Department lawyers have been contacting outside parties in the last few weeks to shore up evidence to support a potential case against the merger, one of the people said.

Furthermore, officials at the antitrust division and the Federal Communications Commission, which is also reviewing the deal, aren’t negotiating with Comcast about conditions to the merger that would resolve concerns, such as selling parts of its business or changing practices, said two people familiar with the situation.


Comcast is, as you might expect, maintaining a rosy disposition regarding the deal's chances.

“There is no basis for a lawsuit to block the transaction,” Comcast spokesperson Sena Fitzmaurice stated when asked about the merger's chances. "The merger “will result in significant consumer benefits - faster broadband speeds, access to a superior video experience, and more competition in business services resulting in billions of dollars of cost savings.”
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Hmm
@rr.com

-22 recommendations

Hmm

Anon

Should happen

This should happen. As Comcast has said, there is no reason why it should be blocked. Nothing changes in terms of options that you have today. With Comcast we all know they move faster to upgrade than TWC has ever. Comcast had D3 rolled out to their entire footprint well become TWC even thought about upgrading.

If this doesn't go through TWC will most likely start selling off sections of their network to who ever wants them- including if SuddenLink or Cox. Hell even Mediacom maybe interested in picking up some new areas. Then with Cox and Suddenlink here will come the caps to the Internet (even though TWC already reserves the right according to the TOS/AUP to throttle and cap the connection- which has been in there since before the AOL/TWE days--aka RR)
mob (banned)
On the next level..
join:2000-10-07
San Jose, CA

9 recommendations

mob (banned)

Member

Re: Should happen

Bravo! The "be$$$$t" opinion on the matter ever stated. If Comcast doesn't get everything it demands, we'll have cancer in a week too.

Thank you hero, your brave word$ have been $aved for po$terity and pro$perity
mja1980
join:2013-05-09

mja1980

Member

Re: Should happen

it's not hypocritical that they will allow the atat/directv deal but shut the Comcast/timewarner deal down. Please explain this to me as directv will be eliminated as competition and my rates are going to go up if I have one or both of these companies as I would if I decided to dump time warner. They are forcing higher pricing in my area.
mob (banned)
On the next level..
join:2000-10-07
San Jose, CA

mob (banned)

Member

Re: Should happen

You're obviously stupid. Comcast called the deal off.

sraz
join:2013-10-28
Tucson, AZ

sraz to Hmm

Member

to Hmm
As much stink as I make about it, I think it should happen too, but only if the right conditions are satisfied. For example, significant divestitures, actual dollars committed to improving customer service, improved access to internet essentials, some address to data caps, doing something about interconnection points, and offering their 2gbps service at a price competitive to Google/ATT.

If they could get some significant concessions out of Comcast like that (assuming they want TWC bad enough) then it would be a go in my opinion. Comcast has to realize it they end up getting too big the government could end up breaking them up down the road. They should have picked a smaller fish to gobble up if they wanted an easy process where they wouldn't have to do anything.
compuguy
join:2003-05-26
Burke, VA

compuguy

Member

Re: Should happen

Honestly, they would have to divest NBC Universal in order to do that.

Hmm
@rr.com

-2 recommendations

Hmm

Anon

Re: Should happen

Why they operate on their own. The same as VZW operates alone from VZ and AT&T Mobility operates alone from AT&T.
Hmm

-3 recommendations

Hmm to sraz

Anon

to sraz
What are they to get rid of? NBC? What does that improve? Nothing. NBC operates as their own company. And they are improving the Internet, they're deploying 2gig services- more than any other provider is doing- including TWC who will wait another 5 years before they upgrade to D3.1.

Data caps? Why? The people demanded back in the day for a hard number from those running servers and downloading tors and p2p at home. And this site was the HUGE push for those caps- including Rob - who is no longer around and sued for those caps. The people here got what they wished for and now bitch about it.

You will always have problems with customer service the bigger you get. TWC has problems as well. Much comes from having outsourced call centers and those people who don't know how to do their job.

The gov't won't touch Comcast for being too big. Anyone they should break is AT&T for owning the entire SBC region, then taking Ameritech, and then BS and the PacBell region. They own 22states with no problems. Hell as it is TWC owns many states and are the sole cable provider in much of the area- Ohio is the major one.

mackey
Premium Member
join:2007-08-20

mackey

Premium Member

Re: Should happen

said by Hmm :

Data caps? Why? The people demanded back in the day for a hard number from those running servers and downloading tors and p2p at home. And this site was the HUGE push for those caps- including Rob - who is no longer around and sued for those caps. The people here got what they wished for and now bitch about it.

Bullshit. The people did NOT demand caps, they demanded that the caps which already existed be identified as such. And unlike CC, TWC does not have any caps anywhere (unless you call and specifically request that one tier) - people have posted in the TWC forum here that they regularly blow through multiple TBs a month (some 10TB+) and have not heard a peep from TWC.
said by Hmm :

You will always have problems with customer service the bigger you get. TWC has problems as well. Much comes from having outsourced call centers and those people who don't know how to do their job.

Wait, earlier you said "there is no reason why it should be blocked" but now you're admitting that their complete shit customer service is going to get even worse? That's a great reason to block this.
sonicmerlin
join:2009-05-24
Cleveland, OH

sonicmerlin to Hmm

Member

to Hmm
If NBC operates as its own company then why isn't it on Sling TV?
Kearnstd
Space Elf
Premium Member
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ

Kearnstd to Hmm

Premium Member

to Hmm
said by Hmm :

Data caps? Why? The people demanded back in the day for a hard number from those running servers and downloading tors and p2p at home. And this site was the HUGE push for those caps- including Rob - who is no longer around and sued for those caps. The people here got what they wished for and now bitch about it.

People demanded a hard number because for a long time there was no number, No known data limit but people did get nastygrams for reaching invisible walls. Imagine how that would be today, the ISP not saying what is heavy usage and then one day getting hit with a disconnect threat because you binge watched all of say Breaking Bad in HD in a week off Netflix.

Also NBC is not their own company they are a wholly owned park of Comcast. They might feel like that NBC from New York still but the money goes down the road to Philadelphia.
macnbc
join:2009-01-12
Arlington, VA

macnbc to Hmm

Member

to Hmm
said by Hmm :

If this doesn't go through TWC will most likely start selling off sections of their network to who ever wants them- including if SuddenLink or Cox. Hell even Mediacom maybe interested in picking up some new areas. Then with Cox and Suddenlink here will come the caps to the Internet (even though TWC already reserves the right according to the TOS/AUP to throttle and cap the connection- which has been in there since before the AOL/TWE days--aka RR)

I don't think Time Warner Cable selling off their assets piecemeal to multiple companies, thus enhancing competition by having more big players in the industry, sounds inherently worse than handing everything over to Comcast to make the Ma Bell of the Internet.

Hmm
@rr.com

-5 recommendations

Hmm

Anon

Re: Should happen

The only way competition is going to happen is if you get an overbuilder that's the only way. And it doesn't make sense to overbuild in much of the US.

And TWC has done the split before with Adelphia. They bought them up with Comcast, TWC sold off much of the areas they didn't want to a company called Windjammer, and turn around a year or so later and took them over only to resell them again.

Spinning off areas and splitting up the company would work. cable companies switch properties all the time when it makes sense.

mustang50
Premium Member
join:2005-05-06
Roseville, MI

mustang50 to Hmm

Premium Member

to Hmm
Charter would step in and take TW. It's very apparent TW wants out.

A bigger Comcast would do no one any good. And their lame claim it would help for faster speed is silly. Everyone will be getting D3.1 and Comcast already said some would get 2gigs.

rit56
join:2000-12-01
New York, NY

2 recommendations

rit56

Member

Re: Should happen

I disagree. Time Warner doesn't want out. The guy running the company whp stands to make 80 million wants out. He should be removed from his job. He is only looking out for himself. No one or nothing else.

Hmm
@rr.com

-3 recommendations

Hmm

Anon

Re: Should happen

Then if they don't want out, then why not dump a ton of money into their network, get rid of the regions like they were to do years ago, and upgrade? TWC doesn't give a damn and has always wanted out in the end. They have no reason to stay in business at this point. TWC needs to sell their stake in BHN and TWC needs to sell TWC. Let another company take over.
Hmm

-2 recommendations

Hmm to mustang50

Anon

to mustang50
Why wouldn't it? They're upgrading their network and has always been the MSO in the lead. TWC sits behind and does nothing. I see no reason to force a company to operate and stay in business that doesn't want to be there and is years behind any other MSO in terms of upgrades and services.

Comcast was the first to role out D3 on a national level and TWC is just now only coming up to the same speed tiers because they're feeling heat from AT&T and others in their areas. They only lowered prices in many areas of Cleveland when WOW expanded and U-verse rolled out. But service stayed the same- and actually ended up going above ATT and WOW pricing for less in services.
Kuro
join:2014-10-01

Kuro to Hmm

Member

to Hmm
Comcast already caps in certain markets and its not a secret that they want to do it over their whole network so if TWC customers are facing potential caps either way. Your right that my options wont change but that's not a good enough excuse for a company that seems to be so big that it has story after story after story proving that they cant run themselves currently and the merger will just make them even bigger.
elefante72
join:2010-12-03
East Amherst, NY

2 recommendations

elefante72

Member

Re: Should happen

The merger is not only about the internet portion, but remember cableTV and how that impacts their markets alone.

If merging they would have unprecedented pricing for volume that effectively blocks (on cost alone) any other vendor from coming in an offering a 2-3 play service, not to mention they directly own TV stations in major metro areas (driving retrans fees) and NBC/.U

While there are lots of cord cutters here, a VAST majority of the country still has cableTV. Comcast could use that network to deploy VOD and not charge WHEN they implement caps and then use that network power to block other OTT parties (either through high intercon costs, poor intercon, or caps) from effectively getting to the end user.

In urban areas they provide low/subsidized cost internet only to drive 2-play (that is the goal) and lock out other vendors from coming in in dense urban situations where costs to deploy are much lower. As most franchises are binary this effectively blocks up a comers from gradual rollouts or cherry picking.

Comcast lobbying power will go after the states/feds to continue to rewrite franchise laws, block munis, or other state-funded investment to benefit their citizens.

They would be a defacto monopoly, so they could easily suffer lower profits or sell as a loss leader in areas where there is competition to bankrupt competitors.

The list goes on, but those who think it will have no difference are flat out wrong.

Hmm
@rr.com

-1 recommendation

Hmm

Anon

Re: Should happen

NBC-U actually operates as a separate company. They always have from the start. And interconnection costs are CHEAP with Comcast. a 1gig interconnect is under 900$ on average. How is that a poor interconnect deal??? Interconnection makes more sense in 99% of all cases that using a CDN/bottom feeder like Cogent for peering.

Actually they do not block out other providers from coming in. No city can create a law that states you can not have an overbuilder. And cities do allow cherry picking- aka Google Fiber- aka FiOS. They cherry pick all the time. Which is why the locals should not be allowed to have a say so in any franchise agreements and the states should be the ones in charge.

And you only have a monopoly when others refuse to service an area. If there was a real push for overbuilders, it would happen.

FureverFurry
RIP Daphne: 3/12/05 - 6/19/12
Premium Member
join:2012-02-20
49xxx
Zoom 5341J
ARRIS WBM760
Vonage VDV-21

1 recommendation

FureverFurry

Premium Member

Re: Should happen

said by Hmm :

And you only have a monopoly when others refuse to service an area.

Say what about monopolies? Standard Oil became a monopoly back in the late 1800s not because the other refineries refused, but rather because John D Rockefeller bought them out. Comcast is doing the same.
Kearnstd
Space Elf
Premium Member
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ

Kearnstd

Premium Member

Re: Should happen

said by FureverFurry:

said by Hmm :

And you only have a monopoly when others refuse to service an area.

Say what about monopolies? Standard Oil became a monopoly back in the late 1800s not because the other refineries refused, but rather because John D Rockefeller bought them out. Comcast is doing the same.

The problem is people cite DSL and call it competition... But today comparing DSL to Cable offerings is like saying the Pony Express was competition to the telegraph.

Hmm
@rr.com

-6 recommendations

Hmm to Kuro

Anon

to Kuro
TWC has always buried that into their TOS/AUP back when RR was the brand for HSI. And again, caps happened with Comcast after people here demanded a hard cap. The cap used to depend on your node and region. Not a national cap. Go back and dig those out. Rob that sued got a nice job over at Free Press and then left after a year or so. He made national headlines for the hard cap as the hero. Now it backfired. And regulation is a good thing? Hardly!
Kuro
join:2014-10-01

Kuro

Member

Re: Should happen

TWC may have it in their TOS but they are not acting on it currently like CC, Cox and Suddenlink are and I doubt losing this merger will make them flip the caps on switch. Looked back a bit and all the articles about a cap on this site were not in favor for them, maybe you can show me which ones you're talking about.
Skippy25
join:2000-09-13
Hazelwood, MO

7 recommendations

Skippy25 to Hmm

Member

to Hmm
Wow, you are working overtime on this and must be getting paid by the post.

Let's get something straight being I have seen you misrepresent this at least twice in this thread.... NOBODY, not a single stinking person EVER said they wanted a hard cap. What they said and what they should have never had to have said for, is that they wanted the magical secret cap that that was randomly used out in the open and not hidden away. They simply wanted the hard cap published and known. That is all anybody ever asked for "in caps" as caps. Which are never needed, unless of course you trying to create a scarce resource, in the broadband business.

Now go on about your other fallacies as to why this should go through so the rest of us can be entertained by your silliness.

why60loss
Premium Member
join:2012-09-20

why60loss to Hmm

Premium Member

to Hmm
said by Hmm :

This should happen. As Comcast has said, there is no reason why it should be blocked. Nothing changes in terms of options that you have today. With Comcast we all know they move faster to upgrade than TWC has ever. Comcast had D3 rolled out to their entire footprint well become TWC even thought about upgrading.

If this doesn't go through TWC will most likely start selling off sections of their network to who ever wants them- including if SuddenLink or Cox. Hell even Mediacom maybe interested in picking up some new areas. Then with Cox and Suddenlink here will come the caps to the Internet (even though TWC already reserves the right according to the TOS/AUP to throttle and cap the connection- which has been in there since before the AOL/TWE days--aka RR)

I agree.

davidc502
join:2002-03-06
Mount Juliet, TN

1 recommendation

davidc502 to Hmm

Member

to Hmm
said by Hmm :

If this doesn't go through TWC will most likely start selling off sections of their network to who ever wants them- including if SuddenLink or Cox. Hell even Mediacom maybe interested in picking up some new areas.

Pure speculation. Sources?

why60loss
Premium Member
join:2012-09-20

why60loss

Premium Member

Re: Should happen

said by davidc502:

said by Hmm :

If this doesn't go through TWC will most likely start selling off sections of their network to who ever wants them- including if SuddenLink or Cox. Hell even Mediacom maybe interested in picking up some new areas.

Pure speculation. Sources?

I had heard that NC was going to be sold to Comcast with other stuff with the charter deal before Comcast came in saying they would buy the whole thing.

But yes if you are a business person it's not hard to predict what the shareholders will order the CEO to do if he fails the mission he was hired to do.

The shareholders want out and have been trying for years to come up with the best way to do it. I don't know how much more clear TWC has to make it that it wants out.

Hmm
@rr.com

-2 recommendations

Hmm

Anon

Re: Should happen

Right! Actually it would make sense for NC to be split between Comcast and Suddenlink. They both are there now and it splits in many areas.

This would be another great option for those on here that claim they can do better to buy a good chunk of TWC's market area and prove they could be better. I bet you could start a page on GoFundMe and make it happen. Maybe they could even make it FREEEE!
Hmm

-1 recommendation

Hmm to davidc502

Anon

to davidc502
Why do you need sources? It's how the industry as a whole works. You don't get what you want, you sue to make it happen especially since there is no reason why this should not get approved.

davidc502
join:2002-03-06
Mount Juliet, TN

1 recommendation

davidc502

Member

Re: Should happen

Hmm,

Apparently you have an answer for everything lol
Skippy25
join:2000-09-13
Hazelwood, MO

Skippy25

Member

Re: Should happen

They may not be right or even good answers, but he has plenty to throw out there.

HereToHelp3
@charter.com

HereToHelp3 to Hmm

Anon

to Hmm
said by Hmm :

If this doesn't go through TWC will most likely start selling off sections of their network to who ever wants them- including if SuddenLink or Cox. Hell even Mediacom maybe interested in picking up some new areas. Then with Cox and Suddenlink here will come the caps to the Internet (even though TWC already reserves the right according to the TOS/AUP to throttle and cap the connection- which has been in there since before the AOL/TWE days--aka RR)

Huge difference Comcast's( #1 ) current size greater than TWC+Charter+Cox( #2, #3, #4 ) COMBINED.

Hmm
@rr.com

Hmm

Anon

Re: Should happen

Regardless. TWC wants out. ComCast makes the upgrades and has the money to keep the company going. TWC is behind in upgrades. Much of Ohio needs upgraded not only in speeds but also actual network wires need to be done. Many cities weren't even finished early 2000s when TWC took over the markets from the Mom and Pop shops. Some are lucky to even get digital cable. And they destroyed areas that had Adelphia in Ohio. Speeds were cut in half of what Adelphia had, brought in cheap equipment. Comcast innovates and improves. TWC does NOT and other companies don't have the money to do so.

chamberc
Premium Member
join:2008-08-05
Addison, TX

chamberc to Hmm

Premium Member

to Hmm
Not to mention, the government should have no say what so ever in private matters.

••••••

caster
@sysvana.com

caster to Hmm

Anon

to Hmm
TWC has much better HD

PlusOne
@comcast.net

PlusOne to Hmm

Anon

to Hmm
said by Hmm :

This should happen. As Comcast has said, there is no reason why it should be blocked. Nothing changes in terms of options that you have today. With Comcast we all know they move faster to upgrade than TWC has ever. Comcast had D3 rolled out to their entire footprint well become TWC even thought about upgrading.

If this doesn't go through TWC will most likely start selling off sections of their network to who ever wants them- including if SuddenLink or Cox. Hell even Mediacom maybe interested in picking up some new areas. Then with Cox and Suddenlink here will come the caps to the Internet (even though TWC already reserves the right according to the TOS/AUP to throttle and cap the connection- which has been in there since before the AOL/TWE days--aka RR)

+1
shmerl
join:2013-10-21

1 recommendation

shmerl to Hmm

Member

to Hmm
Not just it shouldn't happen - what should happen is Comcast being split. I.e. ISP separately, content separately.

Selenia
Gentoo Convert
Premium Member
join:2006-09-22
Fort Smith, AR

Selenia to Hmm

Premium Member

to Hmm
Lol if my vacation home's TWC division will get sold to Cox if the deal is blocked, then block it! Cox is the best I have had so far and worlds better than TWC or Comcast, but for an unenforced(at least in my area) cap.

cralt
join:2011-01-07
CT

1 edit

cralt

Member

Re: Should happen

said by Selenia:

Lol if my vacation home's TWC division will get sold to Cox if the deal is blocked, then block it! Cox is the best I have had so far and worlds better than TWC or Comcast, but for an unenforced(at least in my area) cap.

Im kinda in the same boat. I have charter and it will go to comcast if the deal happens. I had to deal with comcast for years at my old home. I swore I will never ever pay comcast another dime in my life. Hopefully I can stay charter and keep my good working internet.
Mele20
Premium Member
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI

Mele20 to Hmm

Premium Member

to Hmm
said by Hmm :

With Comcast we all know they move faster to upgrade than TWC has ever. Comcast had D3 rolled out to their entire footprint well become TWC even thought about upgrading.

So? I'm fine with 30/5. I don't need 200/20 that I will be upgraded to free later this year and I will downgrade at that time. I would like more upload speed but even your precious Comcast isn't good about that anymore than TWC. Most people here have 15/1 or lower and feel that is ok. If anything, they want more upload not download and more upload is what none of the cable ISPs want to give us.

What's wrong with Cox? That's better than Charter.

•••

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium Member
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK

KrK to Hmm

Premium Member

to Hmm
Absolutely should not happen.

josephf
join:2009-04-26

josephf

Member

Comcast can and should fight a DOJ non-approval in court

And Comcast will likely win in court against the DOJ, allowing the merger to proceed. There is very little basis in the antitrust laws or other statues for DOJ to block it.

The only reason Comcast might choose not to fight a denial, is they don't want to waste time and effort in court. But they are on legally solid grounds.

•••••••••••••••••••••
Davek
join:2014-07-17

Davek

Member

...

Win some and lose some, I guess.

I cancelled my time warner and netflix accounts as a preemptive move against becoming a comcast customer. Had bad dreams about trying to cancel my account after they take over, things even worse than normal comcast because they'd still be sorting out account mergers and such.

Oh well. Been happy without them anyway.

Hmm
@rr.com

-3 recommendations

Hmm

Anon

Re: ...

Wouldn't take much to merge two billing systems together. they probably already operate on the same billing system or very similar systems now as it is.

IowaCowboy
Lost in the Supermarket
Premium Member
join:2010-10-16
Springfield, MA

IowaCowboy

Premium Member

Time warner should remain Time Warner

If the deal is blocked then Time Warner may come to its senses and realize there is no way out. I think Time Warner should remain Time Warner and I'd rather have them as the cable company in Springfield.

••••••
tmc8080
join:2004-04-24
Brooklyn, NY

1 recommendation

tmc8080

Member

the deal unravels

if this is being leaked now, the deal is dead (at long as you have a democrat federal administration) the bigger issue was on the state level-- specifically NY and CA state governments were basically looking for plenty of guarantees which Comcast would never fulfill (promises).

what killed the deal in my mind (and supposedly in regulator's minds too-- let' suppose) is the creating of "TEST" markets to transform broadband into a METERED usage based service where CAPS in broadband usage would eventually lead to a metered system where customers would be fleeced for high usage by forcing them to pay for extra usage or higher "TIERED" services which cost more. you can compare it to the days when the oil companies ran amok with gasoline getting beyond $5 a gallon.. cell phone companies took a look at that and said damn, lemme get some of that high profitability too and charge a high price per GB of data sent/received! doing this would make their "precious" content all the more valuable.. either way, can you say KA CHING...

sectors of our economy are correcting, and telecom has yet to see a huge reckoning of reforms that restore real competition-- but one can only hope that day is coming

••••••••••
bcltoys
join:2008-07-21

1 recommendation

bcltoys

Member

Everybody.

For the merger only if everybody in there footprint gets service... Everybody down to the last house.

Hmm
@rr.com

-1 recommendation

Hmm

Anon

Re: Everybody.

Then you better tell every other provider- including GF they have to meet the same requirements to build out.

Otherwise you won't get anything and nothing changes from today so stop making and demanding crazy demands from a merger.

davidc502
join:2002-03-06
Mount Juliet, TN

davidc502

Member

What everyone knows and what will likely be done

Everyone knows this isn't in the best interests to anyone but Comcast.

However, because it's such a large corporation with huge funds at its disposal, it's likely to go through anyway.

Let's hope common sense prevails, and it's somehow blocked. Comcast is likely to just find another company to buy anyway... maybe, just maybe not another ISP. We can only hope.

Hmm
@rr.com

-1 recommendation

Hmm

Anon

Re: What everyone knows and what will likely be done

Why isn't it a great deal? The Customers win by new and upgraded services. What has TWC done for their customers and you can't say Maxx as more than 90% of the areas can't get it. and they only started doing that.

Again, TWC isn't an ISP they're an MSO and a cable company. They're primary business is not selling Internet.
Expand your moderator at work

maartena
Elmo
Premium Member
join:2002-05-10
Orange, CA

maartena

Premium Member

In my opinion they can only merge if....

1) They split their owned channels into a different company. NBC networks should not be owned by pretty much the largest cable company in the world (if this gets approved) and with that have the option of rape all the other cable companies for whatever amount they want. And the same really should go for their sports networks, and they are going to own TWC Sportsnet Dodgers on top of that for which TWC is asking $5 a subscriber.

2) They allow competition on their broadband links (just like Earthlink once did) for other companies, that are allowed to set their own caps if they want (such as NO caps) and are allowed to have their own routing/rules/etc.

This merger would make Comcast a much too powerful media company, owning not only the lion share of all television and broadband subs, but also owning some of the biggest television networks, and some of the biggest sports teams broadcasting rights, giving them all the opportunity to rape everyone else.

••••
techguru306
join:2015-02-11
Cincinnati, OH
ZyXEL VMG4381

techguru306

Member

Comcast Time Warner Cable Merger finally dead!

Not only is this merger dead but the Bright House and Charter Communications deal is dead too. The deal was contingent of the Comcast Time Warner Cable deal going through which it is not. The question is will Time Warner Cable sell to Charter Communications or go back to business as usual.

••••
shmerl
join:2013-10-21

shmerl

Member

No mergers, just the opposite

For example DOJ should break Comcast into separate ISP and content companies.

•••

anonnymiss
@comcast.net

anonnymiss

Anon

*yawn*

This will end in a new deal, with Charter and Comcast chopping up more of Time Warner to make the feds happy.

Charter will be almost as big as if they had bought all of Time Warner after all the trades between comcast and charter are done so they both end up with larger contiguous areas.

Maybe Greatland Connections will be bigger, and either company will get a chance to buy it in 4 years instead of Charter being the only potential purchaser. Greatlands has to be created for this to be tax-free to both companies.

Scree
In the pipe 5 by 5
join:2001-04-24
Mount Laurel, NJ

1 recommendation

Scree

Member

!#@#!!%@

"The merger “will result in significant consumer benefits - faster broadband speeds, access to a superior video experience, and more competition in business services resulting in billions of dollars of cost savings.""

BUT OUR CABLE BILLS NEVER GO DOWN DO THEY!!!

NOYB
St. John 3.16
Premium Member
join:2005-12-15
Forest Grove, OR

1 edit

NOYB

Premium Member

NBR: Preparing to Block Comcast Time Warner Deal

»youtu.be/Ra0jWLKxPBc?t=946


Click the link instead of image for exact story time spot.
mikesco8
join:2006-02-17
Southwick, MA

mikesco8

Member

The DOJ should block this...

It is not about simply an internet and television provider controlling a huge part of the market, it is about an already dominate player who has abused their market position in the past, has some of the highest prices and worst service; as well as has a major conflict of interest by owning both a major network, regional sports networks and doing everything they can to hinder internet video from competing with their television services. Then look at Time Warner who also uses their market dominance to purchase exclusive rights to Dodgers baseball and sets the price so high that competing services will not carry them. The last thing we need is them merging with Comcast. If the DOJ blocks this It will be a major victory for consumers. I know I will be celebrating!!! The last thing I want is to be a Comcast customer!!!

UnloadedOne
join:2015-04-04
Astoria, NY

1 recommendation

UnloadedOne

Member

Yes!

For the good of the human race, this deal must not go through. I'm elated by this news. Two companies with horrific customer service coming together does no one any good. The merger going through would be something out of a horror movie like The Thing.

FureverFurry
RIP Daphne: 3/12/05 - 6/19/12
Premium Member
join:2012-02-20
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FureverFurry

Premium Member

Disappointed

Well, nuts ! For those of us in the proposed Comcast spinoff area, we were looking forward to the merger as ANYTHING had to be an improvement short of AT&T. If we truly had freedom of choice, our HSI choices wouldn't be limited to Comcast v AT&T. It's a shame that people have to base their residences on just what ISP serves them.

If the merger doesn't go through, Comcast subscribers will note a new "failed merger" fee added to our bills. You don't expect them to foot the bill for all that lobbying now.
mikesco8
join:2006-02-17
Southwick, MA

mikesco8

Member

Re: Disappointed

ForeverFurry said: "if the merger doesn't go through, Comcast subscribers will note a new "failed merger" fee added to our bills. You don't expect them to foot the bill for all that lobbying now."

That is exactly the type of reputation Comcast has and why no one who is a consumer should want this merger. Of course it would they would never call it that they will just find other ways of increasing their fees like they are famous for.
jebbj19
join:2007-04-14
Woodstock, MD

jebbj19

Member

TABLE TIME

It is not that the deal will not be approved but TIME to sit down and allow BIG BROTHER to appease the general public. This will result in MODIFICATIONS that all can and WILL live with for the next ten years. The TABLE is full of proposals that will water down this deal.