Time Warner, Comcast in Deal to Buy Adelphia

BlakeCaldwell writes "CNet reports that Time Warner and cable TV operator Comcast are set to pay $18 billion for bankrupt cable operator Adelphia Communications. The tentative deal, in cash and stock warrants, appears to beat off a potential rival bid by cable firm Cablevision Systems, which a separate source has said was preparing a $16.5 billion cash bid for Adelphia."

Comments

One big cable company?

[tinrobot]

The way we're headed in this country, there soon be only one company running all telecommunications.

Then it will merge with the one company that runs everything else.

Whatever happened to the Sherman anti-trust act?

How long can this consolidation trend go on for

[Anonymous Coward]

until there are only 2 companies in the world ? then what do we do ?

yay

[$lashdot]

Now we can be overcharged and underserviced by fewer corporations.

Great idea.

[Renraku]

Where I am in east TN, it used to be just Comcast offering cable and cable internet services. As a result, their internet service was like $70/mo, and their cable TV was way overpriced.

Since several more cable providers have moved into the area, they all have roughly the same price, which is around $30-40 for internet service.

Now what could POSSIBLY warrant a $30/month drop in price for Comcast? Competition, maybe?

What do you think would happen if gas had a competitor? What if electric cars rivaled gas-powered cars for efficiency/ease-of-use? You're damn right gas prices wouldn't be so high. As of now, gas companies can make any excuse they want to jack prices. "Well, this week I have to pay for my new yacht, so I'm going to jack the prices $.04 a gallon. And everyone else will too, because they'll feel that they aren't getting as good a profit. There'll be the ones that only jack theirs $.03 a gallon, but we have enough loyal customers to ensure that I can buy 3 more yachts by tommorow."