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from the net-neutrality-will-save-us...-oh-wait dept.
M&A gates open with judge's blessing on AT&T-Time Warner merger
A federal judge on Tuesday gave a ringing endorsement to AT&T Inc's planned acquisition of Time Warner Inc without any conditions, opening the door for companies such as Comcast Corp and Verizon Communications Inc to pursue deals to buy creators of media content.
The ruling by Judge Richard Leon bit.ly/2Jxx6qE of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia brings an end to a six-week antitrust trial in which U.S. regulators argued that the $85 billion deal would give AT&T undue leverage against rival cable providers that relied on Time Warner's content.
The judge's strong approval, and scathing opinion that urged the government not to seek a stay if they opposed the ruling, will give telecommunications providers the confidence that similar types of acquisitions will also have a shot at clearing regulatory hurdles, and could spur other copycat mergers this year, industry analysts and dealmakers said.
See also: AT&T-Time Warner Ruling Shows a Need to Reboot Antitrust Laws (archive)
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Thexalon on Thursday June 14 2018, @02:31AM (5 children)
I fully expect, under current political conditions, for unregulated or at least lightly regulated monopolies to return on most essential goods and services. Whenever that occurs, keep a very tight grip on your wallets.
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Thursday June 14 2018, @02:53AM
Won't help, they'll slightly regulate their access to you wallet next.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Thursday June 14 2018, @02:57AM (1 child)
The Trump Administration’s Anti-Trust Division moved very strongly against the AT&T purchase of Time Warner. But you'll never hear that from the FAKE NEWS media. While in the Philippines I was forced to watch Time Warner's @CNN [twitter.com], which I had not done in months, and again realized how bad, and FAKE, it is. Loser!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 14 2018, @05:18AM
Actually, we do hear them gloating, because it was a decision against the position of the administration.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 14 2018, @04:20AM (1 child)
That isn't one of the many wonderful judges appointed by our wonderful President Trump.
He's from the globalist Bush Jr.
(Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Thursday June 14 2018, @05:55PM
Yes, even the never-Trump Republican will gladly get on board with anything that helps big business at the expense of everyone else.