*By Michael Teich*
Big-time media mergers have renewed a policy debate in Washington over how much corporate control in a few powerful hands is too much, said Axios tech reporter David McCabe.
By rejecting the Justice Department's antitrust argument against AT&T's $85 billion deal for Time Warner, a federal judge may have redefined the rules of competition in an age defined by broadband internet, streaming video, and a flood of new content. The government unsuccessfully argued that the combined companies would unfairly hurt video competitors. Instead, the judge's approval of the merger may pave the way for AT&T to better defend against new content players such as Facebook, Google, and Netflix.
"Over time we may see an internet experience controlled by a shrinking number of companies," McCabe said Wednesday in an interview with Cheddar.
AT&T's acquisition of Time Warner is expected to lead to an increase in media mergers and acquisitions. McCabe said the deal is the "green light," especially for vertical deals combining companies that are not direct competitors.
"It’s an extra jolt of confidence to executives who are looking to make a deal in this space without the regulatory friction," McCabe said.
For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/at-and-t-deal-raises-worries-of-internet-oligarchy-2).
The FDRA is a trade association that supports nearly 500 brands worldwide including Nike, Adidas, Walmart, and Target and represents over 90% of US shoe sales.
Lead Analyst at TVREV, Alan Wolk, joins Cheddar to discuss the latest in media and business news, including why business at the box office may be slowing down.
With stubborn inflation sticking at about 2.8%, there’s a chance that the Fed won’t cut rates this year. That might be the smarter choice in the long run.
The health and wellness industry is booming, expected to hit $14 trillion by 2032. Equinox teamed up with Function Health to revolutionize health optimization.
Featherie, a line of sustainable and functional golf wear for girls, fills a void in the market, catering to the increasing number of female junior golfers.
