Earlier quoted context omitted.
Netflix is your ISP?
I don’t think time warner is an isp anymore
AT&T is a major telecom and provider of mobile internet access.
AT&T Cleared by Judge to Buy Time Warner
161–170 of 284 posts
Re: AT&T Cleared by Judge to Buy Time Warner
#162Earlier quoted context omitted.
Does that really matter? Just because it isn't becoming an Internet monopoly, it's still a content+distribution mega-corp that can squeeze its competitors and limit options for consumers.
It matters when ~50% of the comments are talking about net neutrality and Time Warner Cable hasn't existed for more than two years.
This is a major net neutrality issue.
AT&T can now say all of time warner's content is free for mobile devices. Major blow to their competitors.
Re: AT&T Cleared by Judge to Buy Time Warner
#163Merging the threads now. Submitted URLs so far, besides this one: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/12/business/dealbook/att-tim... https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/12/att-time-warner-ruling.html https://www.dallasnews.com/business/att/2018/06/12/att-wins-... http://about.att.com/story/att_to_acquire_time_warner.html If anyone knows a significantly better URL for this submission, let us know and we can change it again.
https://variety.com/2018/biz/news/att-time-warner-merger-app...
More details, especially where it matters. and a more analytic language.
Re: AT&T Cleared by Judge to Buy Time Warner
#164Earlier quoted context omitted.
Well let's not grab our pitchforks just yet. I'm sure if this was a thread discussing Judge Leon's 2013 opinion that NSA metadata collection violated the 4th amendment, HN would be singing his praises. But in this case he's approved a merger we don't like so he must be a total idiot or (as is being suggested further down in the thread) was bribed and has family members that will be getting board AT&T seats pretty soo…
We can still pull out the pitchforks based on the notion that he didn't understand the "expert" opinion presented and just decided not bother?
Oral argument is usually just for clarifications/questions over the written briefs. Judge Leon likely later read the written briefs on his own time (that is his job, after all).
Re: AT&T Cleared by Judge to Buy Time Warner
#165Maybe this will cause Trump to retaliate by bringing back net neutrality?
Re: AT&T Cleared by Judge to Buy Time Warner
#166Yet more media consolidation. And this one has the inherent conflicts of interest you get when a distributor buys out a producer. And of course the idea of protecting the public interest isn't a thing anymore in DC.
Ma Bell 2.0
not exactly the best example when you consider what their research arm bell labs gave us.
Not saying that monopolies are good, it's just not black and white...
Re: AT&T Cleared by Judge to Buy Time Warner
#167Earlier quoted context omitted.
Well, the judge has to base the decision on a whole bunch of laws. It's not like judges get to decide this on their own.
>Well, the judge has to base the decision on a whole bunch of laws. It's not like judges get to decide this on their own. This is a weird opinion to hold when you take the fact that two judges can come to two completely separate conclusions on a single issue, while drawing from the same laws.
Judging is the act of applying law (general) to a particular case (specific). Since laws can't anticipate every future situation at their time of writing, no matter what there will _always_ be some disconnect between these two -- i.e. vagueness/generality in law, leading to edge cases.
Which is why two judges can come to two completely separate conclusions on a single issue, while drawing from the same laws, based on their own personal methods of interpretation and biases.
Re: AT&T Cleared by Judge to Buy Time Warner
#168> The judge indicated during the trial that he wasn’t buying Shapiro’s projection. After his testimony, Leon said he was "confused." Further explanation from Shapiro didn’t help. "I’m not sure I got it, but it’s too late and too hot to belabor the point any further," the judge said. Amazing on so many different levels. (Shapiro is the economist whose model the DOJ based their case off of).
Well let's not grab our pitchforks just yet. I'm sure if this was a thread discussing Judge Leon's 2013 opinion that NSA metadata collection violated the 4th amendment, HN would be singing his praises. But in this case he's approved a merger we don't like so he must be a total idiot or (as is being suggested further down in the thread) was bribed and has family members that will be getting board AT&T seats pretty soo…
I should point out that this doesn't really change the broadband ISP landscape. Time Warner Cable is not apart of Time Warner anymore. All this does is give AT&T a better chance at entering the "original content" space and to take advantage of the fact that streaming providers like Youtube TV and Netflix would need to now pay AT&T for their content.
Honestly I don't think this is all that bad of a move. I'd rather AT&T absorb Time Warner than Comcast.
Re: AT&T Cleared by Judge to Buy Time Warner
#169Earlier quoted context omitted.
Can they appeal the case in higher courts?
The merger is set to close next Monday. DOJ can file for a stay, but the judge warned them that would be unwise. I think the DOJ will just take it as a loss.
Yes they can, but they probably will not. Otherwise the Assistant AG's statement would have said so. Notice how he danced around it.
Re: AT&T Cleared by Judge to Buy Time Warner
#170> The judge indicated during the trial that he wasn’t buying Shapiro’s projection. After his testimony, Leon said he was "confused." Further explanation from Shapiro didn’t help. "I’m not sure I got it, but it’s too late and too hot to belabor the point any further," the judge said. Amazing on so many different levels. (Shapiro is the economist whose model the DOJ based their case off of).
Absolutely shameful. AI judges can't come soon enough.
I, for one, welcome our new AI overlords.