Charter to Acquire Time Warner Cable For $55 Billion

[engine]

Wow, that's a lot of money in that deal! Is there really a market to be had there?

Charter Communications Inc. agreed to buy Time Warner Cable Inc. for about $55 billion in cash and stock, snapping up the cable provider after getting last-minute competition from French billionaire Patrick Drahi.

Charter will pay $195.71 a share -- 14 percent above Time Warner Cable’s May 22 close -- with $100 in cash and the remainder in its own stock, according to a statement Tuesday. Bright House Networks, a smaller cable company that Charter has previously agreed to buy, will also be merged into the combined entity. Charter to Acquire Time Warner Cable For $55 Billion [bloomberg.com]

[werty]

... what could go wrong?

I am not sure on the number of users, but many US states have maybe 1 or 2 options for wired high speed internet and cable. I am in Chicago and really it is comcast (cable) vs ATT (dsl with some cable/satellite tv depending on the area). And then a few wireless providers and cell phone broadband, but really 2 choices.

So it may be a crazy buy, but it is probably buying half the internet users in whatever areas Time Warner Cable covers.

Not to mention whatever streaming media options come along with it...

Among its subsidiaries are New Line Cinema, HBO, Turner Broadcasting System, The CW Television Network, Warner Bros., Kids' WB, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Adult Swim, CNN, DC Comics, Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios, Hanna-Barbera, and Castle Rock Entertainment.

I am sure the loser of it will be the end user...