Verizon's CEO Is Open to Deal Talks, From Comcast to Disney

Tom Paine

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Verizon CEO Lowell C. McAdam / Verizon Website

Verizon's CEO Is Open to Deal Talks, From Comcast to Disney (Bloomberg)

Verizon CEO said he may be interested in merger with Disney, Comcast or CBS (CNBC)

McAdam told Bloomberg, "If Brian [Roberts] came knocking on the door, I'd have a discussion with him about it."


Market Values (equity)

VZ $201.6bn
CMCSA $178.2bn
DIS $180.6bn


Does Mr McAdam have a strategy in mind? Comcast, Disney, & CBS would each lead to very different outcomes. Although the one common denominator seems to be a major network.

But its difficult to tell whether McAdam wants a 5G-centric strategy, a content-centric strategy, or both.

Verizon doesn't hold all the cards; As you can see from the above numbers, a Verizon merger between either Comcast or Disney would essentially be a marriage of equals.

The analysts I've followed are mostly unconvinced of the logic of a Verizon / Comcast combination in order to achieve 5G.

And any such merger, in the remote possibility it might happen, would have to maintain at least two significant broadband competitors.

Updates as warranted.

Comcast has not responded to McAdam's comments.

This IBD article might be helpful in comparing relative values of Comcast and Verizon.

Verizon's earnings are due out tomorrow morning.

Verizon CFO: McAdam's M&A commentstaken out of context (Deadline)