Comcast
Corp., the largest U.S. cable operator, has bought Time Warner Cable, the second-biggest cable operator, in a deal worth $45.2 billion, the company confirmed late Wednesday. The all-stock offer is valued at $158.82 a share for Time Warner Cable's stock. Previously, Charter Communications had made a cash and stock offer for Time Warner Cable of
$132.50, which Time Warner Cable said was “grossly inadequate.”Looking to avoid regulatory issues, Comcast would be willing to divest
three million subscribers, according to Comcast's CNBC, which broke the story. Comcast Corp. currently has around 22 million video subscribers; Time Warner Cable has 12.5 million video customers in
major markets such as New York, Los Angeles and Dallas.advertisement
advertisement
The deal comes just months after Charter, the fourth-largest U.S. cable operator with around 5.7
million video customers, had been pushing for a deal with Time Warner Cable, spurred on by John Malone, chairman of Liberty Media Group. Liberty Media is a major investor in Charter, and owns 27% of
the company.
Charter nominated a slate of directors earlier this week to replace Time Warner Cable’s board members if a deal could not be
reached.
And the Great Media Bloodbath of 2014 begins!
http://mankabros.com/blogs/onmedea/2013/11/22/the-great-media-bloodbath-of-2014/