Charter near $55B deal for Time Warner Cable
Charter Communications (CHTR) is nearing agreement to acquire Time Warner Cable (TWC) for $195 a share in a cash and stock deal valued at approximately $55 billion, according to reports Monday from Bloomberg News and The Wall Street Journal. Ref. USAToday
Charter Communications said Tuesday it's buying Time Warner Cable in a deal valued at about $79 billion, forging ahead with its theory that gaining more customers would provide the leverage it needs to grow in the turbulent pay-TV industry. Ref. USAToday
The boards of AT&T and Time Warner are meeting today to vote on an $80 billion deal that would bring the two companies together, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The acquisition of Time Warner could be announced by Saturday night.
Time Warner is the parent company of CNN, TNT, HBO, the Warner Bros. Studio, and a number of other TV channels and websites.
AT&T is one of the country's leading providers of wireless phone and Internet service. It also recently acquired the DirecTV satellite TV business. Ref. CNN.
The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit to block AT&T's takeover of Time Warner, the parent company of CNN.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Washington, DC, on Monday, is an unusual challenge to the $85 billion deal, which was announced by the two companies more than a year ago. AT&T says it will fight the case in court.
In the suit, the DOJ argues that the deal violates antitrust law because AT&T would likely "Use its control of Time Warner's popular programming as a weapon to harm competition." Ref. CNN.
Judge approves AT&T-Time Warner deal. A federal judge ruled on Tuesday that AT&T can move forward with its $85 billion acquisition of Time Warner.
Judge Richard Leon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia said at a hearing that he has found, after a six-week trial, that the deal does not violate antitrust law and can proceed.
Leon discouraged the government from asking him to put his own ruling on hold pending appeal, and said that if asked he would deny a stay. "I hope the government has the wisdom and courage" not to seek a stay, he said.
The judge's ruling will likely be seen by tech and telecom giants as a green light to pursue a slew of major media acquisitions.
CNN is owned by Time Warner. Ref. CNN.