Comcast has always had better technology than Time-Warner Cable, better UI, faster internet speed, better TV-everywhere product. Will regulators allow them to buy everything? John Malone (TWC) was pushing the consolidation narrative, but must now concede to Brian Roberts (Comcast). This new entity will now have bargaining power with programmers (i.e., content providers).
TV wasn’t a top priority for Apple, but it is now apparently. Still there is a long lead time before they can roll out this “hockey puck” (Apple TV). Now Comcast can do everything. Apple was trying to debundle TV, like it did with music through iTunes. But that’s no longer going to work.
#1 and #2 hooking up, and it raises the flag with regulators. Difficult process, not a done deal. It will probably get done, but it’ll rake Comcast through the coals. People will have a better TV experience. Big players like this can inhibit innovation. Apple doesn’t have content. Steve Jobs thought Comcast stuff sucked. Comcast (Brian Roberts) owns NBC, Disney (Bob Iger) owns ABC. Comcast-TWC is a (
very) important wrinkle in the mix. No breakup fee in this deal. It blocks out Charter.
Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!
Ron Villejo, PhD
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