The judge who allowed AT&T’s mega-merger with Time Warner was clearly wrong in concluding the marriage won’t harm consumers, the Trump Justice Department argued Monday in challenging the decision. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon misunderstood the complexities of the booming pay-TV market and the nature of AT&T’s competitors, the department’s antitrust regulators asserted in their…
Fate of Massive AT&T-Time Warner Merger in US Judge’s Hands
The fate of the AT&T-Time Warner merger, a massive media deal opposed by the government that could shape how much consumers pay for streaming TV and movies, rests in the hands of a federal judge. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon is expected to announce in court Tuesday his decision in the biggest antitrust trial in…
Govt Argues that AT&T-Time Warner Deal Would Hurt Consumers
The U.S. government pleaded its case Monday for blocking AT&T from absorbing Time Warner, saying the combination would hurt consumers. In the landmark antitrust trial’s last day in federal court, lead Justice Department attorney Craig Conrath argued that the $85 billion proposed merger “would have a massive effect on the structure of the pay-TV industry.”…
US, AT&T Fire Opening Salvos as Govt Seeks to Block Merger
The government and AT&T exchanged opening salvos in a federal trial Thursday as the U.S. seeks to block the telephone giant from absorbing Time Warner, in a case that could shape how consumers get — and how much they pay for — streaming TV and movies. The Trump Justice Department has sued to block the…
Innovation or A Monopoly? AT&T, Time Warner Go Before Senate
WASHINGTON (AP) — The CEOs of AT&T and Time Warner are heading to Capitol Hill in a bid to convince senators that a merger of their two companies will mean innovative new experiences for consumers. They can expect a skeptical audience. The CEOs, Randall Stephenson of AT&T and Jeffrey Bewkes of Time Warner, are due…
US Probes e-Commerce Giant Alibaba’s Accounting Practices
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba says it is under investigation by U.S. regulators in connection with its accounting practices. The company is the world’s biggest e-commerce platform, with more than 420 million people buying $485 billion worth of goods last year on its sites. Its digital platforms, including Taobao and Tmall, make up 80 percent of…
U.S. Regulators Focus on Repairs of Exploding Takata Air Bags
Federal regulators are addressing the deadly defects in Takata air bag inflators as they move toward taking over management of the massive recalls to speed repairs. A public meeting Thursday held by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, regulators will discuss repairs to inflators on millions of U.S. vehicles in the largest auto-safety recall in…
Obama Lobbied Intel CEO on Stimulus
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama lobbied the head of Intel to talk up the more than $800 billion economic recovery package moving through Congress, the chief executive of the world’s biggest chip maker said Tuesday. Paul Otellini said Obama “encouraged” him in a brief phone call Monday to publicly support the stimulus plan that…