Audio Video News

A recent wave of cable-company consolidations is inexorably bringing the market under the dominion of ever fewer players. The latest mega-deal is the absorption of Time Warner Cable into Charter Communications in a $65.5 billion deal, which followed lengthy review by the FCC.

To seal the deal, Charter agreed not to try keeping desirable programming away from streaming competitors such as Netflix, not to impose data caps on online video viewers for seven years, and not to charge streaming competitors for network access to Charter subscribers. The company will also expand internet service to an additional two million homes and offer low-cost broadband to low-income households.

The deal has attracted criticism from consumer groups, who decry concentration of ownership; from competitors like the Dish Network, which believes cable consolidation is bad for its Sling TV streaming service; and from conservatives who believe the FCC overreached on the conditions.