AT&T won approval Tuesday of its $85 billion bid for Time Warner, a decision that could pave the way for more mega-deals in the media industry.
A U.S. judge ruled the Justice Department did not sufficiently show that a tie-up would stifle competition or harm consumers. He also tried to dissuade the government from appealing his decision.
The merger of the two companies, announced in October 2016, was closely watched by other media and telecom companies with ambitions to cross over.
Internet providers and cable distributors are looking for new revenue sources to compete with streaming content companies such as Netflix and Amazon.
But the government has been skeptical of the consolidation of content and delivery. The Justice Department sued to block AT&T's deal last November, citing concerns over the telecom company owning both DirecTV and Time Warner.
Tuesday's ruling in favor of AT&T could preclude similar arguments to block mergers down the road.
The cable TV giant Comcast said earlier this week it would submit an all-cash bid as early as Wednesday to buy assets from 21st Century Fox if the AT&T acquisition was approved.
Comcast's bid for Fox could upend Disney's offer, and send that company looking for another target.
Shares of Comcast, Disney, and AT&T were all down after the judge's ruling. Fox and Time Warner stock were rising.
An AT&T spokesman said the company is "gratified" by the decision. The deal is expected to close by June 20.
Consumers continue to navigate through rising costs at the register, whether it be at the grocery or department store. Beverly Harzog, personal finance and credit card expert with U.S. News & World Report, joined Cheddar News to provide tips on how to get the best deals during your shopping spree.
Delta Airlines responded to a class-action lawsuit that said the company inaccurately claimed to be the world's first "carbon-neutral company, saying it was "without merit."
Maurits Pots, founder and CEO of Tema ETFS, joined Cheddar News to discuss what market trends to look out for with the debt ceiling vote in the backdrop of investors' minds.
Used car prices have risen dramatically recently and continue to remain at a high rate. Cheddar News spoke with some customers and a salesman to get their take.
The U.S. government’s auto safety agency plans to require that all new passenger cars and light trucks include potentially life-saving automatic emergency braking and meet stricter safety standards within three years.
A judge ruled against Boeing and said families of passengers who died in the 737 Max crash in Ethiopia can seek damages for the pain and suffering felt by the victims shortly before the accident.
Used car prices are skyrocketing, with some costing as much as a brand new car. Cheddar News reporter Ashley Mastronardi has more on what's behind rising prices for pre-owned vehicles and some tips for getting the best bang for your buck.
