The head of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission does not expect to review AT&T Inc’s planned $85.4 billion acquisition of Time Warner Inc , a spokesman for the agency said on Monday. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai had told the Wall Street Journal in an interview on Monday at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona that he did not foresee a role for the FCC on the takeover and his comments were confirmed to Reuters by FCC spokesman Neil Grace.
Category: Turner Broadcasting System
Time Warner to Sell TV Station Amid AT&T Merger
“Time Warner Inc. agreed to sell its Atlanta television station to Meredith Corp. for $70 million,” confirms the Wall Street Journal , “removing a significant factor that could have prompted the Federal Communications Commission to review Time Warner’s $85 billion sale to AT&T Inc.” New FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has yet to say whether he plans to have the agency review AT&T’s mega-purchase. As of press time, he has also declined to remark on what impact the Atlanta station sale might have on any possible FCC review.
AT&T says its merger with Time Warner is exactly what customers want
With AT&T planning to avoid a Federal Communications Commission review of its merger with Time Warner, Senate Democrats led by Al Franken recently asked the company to prove that the acquisition will benefit Americans. AT&T gave its response on Friday with a letter that describes the merger’s promised benefits-including targeted advertising.
Democratic senators want AT&T to detail Time Warner deal benefits
WASHINGTON: Thirteen Democratic senators on Wednesday asked AT T Inc to explain how its planned US$85.4 billion takeover of Time Warner Inc is in the public interest, as the company hopes to avoid a review of the deal by the primary U.S. telecommunications agency.Earlier this month, AT T said in a securities filing it expected to bypass the U.S. Federal Communications Commission in its acquisition of the owner of HBO, CNN, Turner Broadcasting and Warner Brothers and only face U.S. Justice Department review.AT T does not plan to acquire a Time Warner TV station in Atlanta that has an FCC license, which would automatically trigger a review.Democratic senators Al Franken, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Ed Markey and nine others urged AT T and Time Warner in a letter to submit a public interest statement to them by Feb. 17 that would required as part of an FCC review “detailing how you … (more)
AT&T and Time Warner still trying to sidestep FCC scrutiny of merger
AT&T and Time Warner say they have a plan to avoid a Federal Communications Commission review of their pending merger. An FCC review would be necessary if Time Warner transfers any FCC licenses to AT&T, but Time Warner might get rid of any such licenses before the deal is finished.