Boom - Watch This Closely. Josh Marshall

[DonViejo]

By JOSH MARSHALL Published NOVEMBER 8, 2017 2:17 PM

I’ve previously noted the chatter that AT&T may have or may need to give President Trump assurances that CNN will be reined in before his Justice Department okays its $84.5 billion acquisition of Time Warner. The Financial Times has just reported (sub req) that the DOJ is now telling AT&T that it needs to sell CNN if it wants the acquisition approved.

From the FT …

The sale of CNN, which President Donald Trump has fiercely criticised as a broadcaster of “fake news”, is just one of the demands being made by the US antitrust authority in order to sign off on the deal, those involved in the talks said. But it could prove a stumbling block.

AT&T is opposed to selling the TV network and is preparing to take the Trump administration to court, arguing the deal with Time Warner does not pose any competition violations.

“It’s all about CNN,” said one person with direct knowledge of the talks between the company and the DOJ, adding that the regulator made it clear to AT&T that if it sold CNN the deal would go through.

more
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/boom-watch-this-closely

[Iliyah]

1. Isn't this illegal

and why

[el_bryanto]

3. It's problematic - under normal circumstances I agree with Mr. Marshall

Media conglomorations have grown too large. But if he is using his power as an elected official to settle scores on behalf of trump than that is awful too. That said, so long as no clear statement is discovered, they will probably get away with it.

Bryant

[octoberlib]

6. Renato Mariotti explains why

Renato Mariotti?Verified account @renato_mariotti 39m39 minutes ago
3/ The purpose of the DOJ approval process is to ensure that consumers don’t pay higher prices than they should because a merger creates a company that controls too large of a percentage of market.


4/ For example, in 2011 the government blocked AT&T for purchasing T-Mobile because it would have reduced competition in the market for cellular service providers.

5/ Sometimes, when two big companies merge, the government makes one or both companies divest certain assets to make sure that a new monopoly isn’t created.

6/ For example, Comcast owns NBC and Disney owns ABC. If they decided to merge, the DOJ might require the new company to sell either NBC or ABC.

7/ In this proposed merger, AT&T doesn’t not own a cable news competitor to CNN. There is no obvious reason why a combination of Time Warner and AT&T would need to sell CNN. They don’t own Fox News or MSNBC.

8/ This looks like an attempt by the Trump Administration to punish the free press, particularly because Trump has gone out of his way to personally and unfairly attack CNN.

9/ Lawmakers and the public should demand answers from the Administration. There had better be a very good reason for this request, and there doesn’t appear to be one.

Link to tweet

[Squinch]

2. Impeachable offense number 1,256.

[triron]

4. I can see Rachel talking about this very soon!

[sunonmars]

5. Sale to who, ask the question, who will profit from it or bought up by GOP donors.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

8. Some Aussie fellow, perhaps? nt

[octoberlib]

7. Trump admin is lying as usual.

Link to tweet

NEW: The Justice Dept claims that AT&T privately offered to sell CNN. AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson DENIES that: "Throughout this process, I have never offered to sell CNN and have no intention of doing so."