They wonder whether everybody has to belong to somebody else. Critics see corporate gladiators girding for a titanic forthcoming battle for global information supremacy. Indeed many individual writers and other creative people may well find it difficult to find work given how few firms now control most media content production. On the other hand, supporters of mergers note that rarely do merged media outlets speak with a single voice. The best way to begin to assess a deal of this size is to review the factors that have driven the process to this point.
Content is by far the most important.
A firm can own the finest delivery systems in the world, but remain hostage to those who control content people need or want. Access to the audience is a close second. Without an ability to reach the end user, no combination of content and delivery can survive. Some deal-drivers are more negative in tone. For example, even companies as large as Time Warner may merge out of a seemingly irrational fear of being left behind, ironic though that seems given the size, scope and success of the media behemoth.