The DOJ will investigate whether the proposed transactions would reduce competition. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) must approve Charter’s transactions before they can close. The proposed Charter transactions have the potential to affect the development of this relatively new online video distribution industry by inhibiting distributors’ access to programming or their ability to send programs to customers over the Internet.Īt the federal level, both the U.S. At the same time, growing numbers of consumers are now viewing programs online at a time of their choosing rather than subscribing to traditional cable or satellite services or watching based on a broadcaster’s schedule. Companies in the television industry are in frequent negotiation with one another for the right to transmit programming, and the merger of three players into a very large one could change the relative bargaining power of other parties. The many firms involved in content ownership, aggregation and packaging, and distribution of video programming often must cooperate with one another at the same time they are competing. The proposed merger raises a number of potential concerns, reflecting the complex structure of the television industry and substantial changes in the way consumers choose to receive video programming. The combination of Charter, TWC, and BHN would create a single entity providing cable television and broadband access service to 23.9 million customers in 41 states, making it the nation’s second-largest cable television operator and broadband access provider.

(TWC) to merge the two companies in a deal valued at $78.7 billion, including the assumption of debt, and with Advance/Newhouse Partnership to acquire Bright House Networks (BHN) for $10.4 billion.

announced that it reached agreements with Time Warner Cable Inc. In May 2015, Charter Communications, Inc.

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