*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 Good Charcoal Company offers eco-friendly, chemical-free charcoal sourced from Namibian acacia wood, promoting sustainable grilling practices nationwide.
After a few months of positive data, the Fed chair says he’s in no rush to cut rates – and this analyst says inflation could stick around for the near future.
As the DOJ potentially prepares to file criminal charges against Boeing, an industry expert breaks down what went wrong – and how it could make things right.
The Fed chair seems pleased with how far inflation has fallen, but according to this analyst, we could be waiting until 2025 to hit that crucial 2% goal.
While the Fed has made it clear that it won’t consider cutting rates until at least September, one analyst is expecting a whopping seven cuts in a row.
