*By Mike Teich*
If AT&T's $85 billion bid for Time Warner was allowed to proceed, it could lead to a new wave of media and telecom mergers, and smooth the way for deals like the Sprint-T-Mobile merger announced on Sunday, said Dan Primack, the business editor at Axios.
A federal judge heard arguments Monday over the potential impact of the AT&T-Time Warner deal on consumers. The Department of Justice sued to block the deal for fear it would give AT&T too much power. The wireless company argued there is plenty of competition from content companies such as Disney and new media powerhouses like Google and Netflix that would counterbalance its influence if it were to take over a content shop like Time Warner.
The lead lawyer for AT&T and Time Warner told Judge Richard J. Leon of U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia that blocking the merger would [dampen competition](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/30/technology/att-time-warner-trial.html), according to The New York Times. The judge is expected to rule in June.
Primack said in an interview Tuesday with Cheddar that AT&T doesn't need the deal to go through in order to survive, but it would enable the telecom company to challenge new media rivals.
If the acquisition was allowed, Primack said "we will see a run on mergers" in media and telecom. If the deal was quashed, he said there will be a "big freeze."
That could mean a halt ー for the third time ー to the merger of the third and fourth largest wireless carriers, T-Mobile and Sprint. Their $26 billion dollar deal must be approved by federal regulators.
For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/future-of-telecom-mergers-hinges-on-at-and-t-time-warner-case).
Swingers mini golf co-founder and co-CEO Matt Grech-Smith explains the appeal of putt-putt for adults and the company's expansion to Las Vegas.
From moving finances online to the new ways we'll be getting cash, Ray Hatch, the Vice President of Enterprise Solutions Vertical Markets at Comcast Business explains how the banking industry is getting ready for the future.
Swingers mini golf chain co-founder and co-CEO Matt Grech-Smith explains how his company is finding success by creating a more adult version of a longtime family favorite.
Shopping expert Trae Bodge shares tips for saving money while back-to-school shopping for college students.
The managers of the Panama Canal said they expect income from the waterway to drop after authorities were forced to limit the number of ships passing through each to 32 due to a lack of rainfall.
Nissan is recalling more than 236,000 small cars in the U.S. because the tie rods in front suspension can bend and break, possibly causing drivers to lose steering control.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Facebook on Monday of putting profits over people’s safety during the emergencies created by Canada’s record wildfire season.
Neil Wertheimer, deputy editor for the AARP Bulletin and The Magazine, talks about some of the highlights from this year's list of 99 Great Ways to Save.
Just five years ago, a price-conscious auto shopper in the United States could choose from among a dozen new small cars selling for under $20,000. Now, there’s just one: The Mitsubishi Mirage.
Inflation is easing, but prices for the items you need are still high. Marty Cantor explains that while relief will eventually arrive, he says we should brace ourselves for things to get worse before they get better.
