NY Times editorial opposes Comcast/Time Warner Cable merger
Tom Paine
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The New York Times yesterday published an editorial unfavorable to the proposed Comcast/Time Warner Cable merger, writing that the merger would create "a telecommunications colossus the likes of which the country has not seen since 1984 when the government forced the breakup of the original AT&T telephone monopoly." It added, "By buying Time Warner Cable, Comcast would become a gatekeeper over what consumers watch, read and listen to."
While suggesting that the FCC and DOJ should impose conditions on the deal if it is to be approved, it concludes: "Federal regulators should challenge this deal."
Of course, the New York area contains one of the largest concentrations of Time Warner Cable subscribers.
I'm not sure newspaper editorials have the sway they once did, but the major opinion leaders definitely have an influence, and their editorial opinions are likely to be reflected in the way they report content on the issue.
Other major papers to have weighed in include the Washington Post last month (FCC should approve the Comcast-Time Warner Cable merger but keep a watchful eye), and an April editorial from Comcast's hometown Inquirer saying the deal would be a "slam-dunk" from Philadelphia's perspective but raises major questions from the point of view of the customer.
