Comcast CEO Brian Roberts spoke with FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler last week before the company backed out of the deal to buy Time Warner Cable Friday in the face of regulator opposition, according to an ex parte filing in docket 14-57. April 20, Roberts “emphasized that Comcast, as it has in proven in prior transactions, will live up to the commitments it made in the docket,” the filing said. Industry officials familiar with the proceedings told us that concern about Comcast’s record on prior transaction conditions was one of the factors in FCC opposition to the deal (see 1504230060). Charter Communications, Comcast and TWC formally withdrew their applications for the Comcast/TWC Friday, in an ex parte letter filed in docket 14-57. The Comcast and Charter spinoff that was to be created out of Comcast/TWC, also withdrew its application, the filing said.
Comcast CEO Brian Roberts spoke with FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler last week before the company backed out of the deal to buy Time Warner Cable Friday in the face of regulator opposition, according to an ex parte filing in docket 14-57. April 20, Roberts “emphasized that Comcast, as it has in proven in prior transactions, will live up to the commitments it made in the docket,” the filing said. Industry officials familiar with the proceedings told us that concern about Comcast’s record on prior transaction conditions was one of the factors in FCC opposition to the deal (see 1504230060). Charter Communications, Comcast and TWC formally withdrew their applications for the Comcast/TWC Friday, in an ex parte letter filed in docket 14-57. The Comcast and Charter spinoff that was to be created out of Comcast/TWC, also withdrew its application, the filing said.
Charter Communications is buying Bright House Networks in a $10.4 billion deal that's contingent on the approval of the Comcast/Time Warner Cable deal being approved, Charter said in a news release Tuesday. The deal will add 2 million video subscribers and some contiguous markets to Charter’s footprint, and solve an “attribution problem” involving Bright House in the Comcast deal, Charter CEO Tom Rutledge said on a press call after the announcement. Despite the sale’s dependency on the Comcast/TWC transaction, it isn't expected to have much of an effect on that deal’s approval, several communications attorneys told us.
Charter Communications is buying Bright House Networks in a $10.4 billion deal that's contingent on the approval of the Comcast/Time Warner Cable deal being approved, Charter said in a news release Tuesday. The deal will add 2 million video subscribers and some contiguous markets to Charter’s footprint, and solve an “attribution problem” involving Bright House in the Comcast deal, Charter CEO Tom Rutledge said on a press call after the announcement. Despite the sale’s dependency on the Comcast/TWC transaction, it isn't expected to have much of an effect on that deal’s approval, several communications attorneys told us.
The company that will be spun off from Comcast if its purchase of Time Warner Cable and divestiture deal with Charter Communications are successful will be called GreatLand Connections, Charter and Comcast said in a news release Wednesday (http://bit.ly/YbGRic). The spinoff has been referred to as SpinCo or Midwest Cable in FCC filings on the deal. “The name GreatLand Connections pays homage to the rich history and striking geographies of the diverse communities in which the company will operate,” said the prospective company’s CEO, Michael Willner. GreatLand Connections will be an independent, publicly traded company made up of former Comcast systems with about 2.5 million customers in the Midwest and southeast U.S., the release said: “At its inception, it is expected to be the fifth largest cable company in the United States."
The company that will be spun off from Comcast if its purchase of Time Warner Cable and divestiture deal with Charter Communications are successful will be called GreatLand Connections, Charter and Comcast said in a news release Wednesday (http://bit.ly/YbGRic). The spinoff has been referred to as SpinCo or Midwest Cable in FCC filings on the deal. “The name GreatLand Connections pays homage to the rich history and striking geographies of the diverse communities in which the company will operate,” said the prospective company’s CEO, Michael Willner. GreatLand Connections will be an independent, publicly traded company made up of former Comcast systems with about 2.5 million customers in the Midwest and southeast U.S., the release said: “At its inception, it is expected to be the fifth largest cable company in the United States."
Scores of House lawmakers joined in signing two letters scrutinizing media industry consolidation. They suggested that major acquisitions pending regulatory approval should include commitments and principles to ensure that certain groups not be excluded. Comcast in particular pushed back hard and fast against any assertion that its proposed acquisition of Time Warner Cable would cause problems.
PeerApp, which caches content for network operators, hires Gadi Tamari, ex-Radvision, as CEO, succeeding Robert Mayer … Among those to be on board of SpinCo, proposed Comcast spinoff of subscribers Comcast is divesting to Charter Communications as part of buying Time Warner Cable (see separate report above in this issue): Rick D'Avino, General Atlantic, James Chiddix, ex-TWC and now on Arris board, Gregory Doody, Vineyard Brands, Dennis Hersch, N.A. Property, Wendell Holland, ex-NARUC and now lawyer in private practice, Greg Maffei, Liberty Media, and Christopher Winfrey, Charter.
Comcast and Charter Communications filed applications with the FCC for approval of Comcast’s divestiture of 3.9 million subscribers to Charter in connection with Comcast agreeing to pay about $66 billion for Time Warner Cable (http://bit.ly/1kNJ1Yp). As expected (CD April 29 p1), the deal will involve 2.5 million Comcast subscribers being transferred to a newly created Charter affiliated company known as SpinCo, 1.5 million subs going to Charter, and a swap of subscribers among the companies to allow geographic concentration. The filings made public Thursday include Comcast’s listing of the public interest benefits of the deal and SpinCo details. Since the delay will leave Comcast shareholders owning parts of all three companies, regulators could pay special attention to the viability and independence of the spinoff company, said James Stenger, a mergers and acquisitions attorney at Chadbourne & Parke.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Comcast stuck out as an atypical attendee at the Home Technology Specialists of America spring conference, which attracted some 210 vendors, dealers, press and industry association members. It’s the second appearance at a custom electronics event for Comcast, which attended CEDIA Expo last fall.