Access to Time Warner's cable business is an important element of the deal to AOL, as it will enable the Internet provider to start offering much speedier Internet and interactive television services. Until this deal, no major cable company would carry America Online's services. Although some consumer groups and members of Congress called for careful scrutiny of the merger, the companies do not expect any problems because their businesses do not overlap. Many analysts predict that the deal will spur other media and technology companies to join alliances. It's rarely ideological.
Good journalism is bad business and bad journalism is, regrettably, at times good business.
What we should do is to make sure that all that information does not become funneled and controlled by just two or three sources. Others, however, predict that the deal will have little impact on journalistic independence. D.C. Regulators would have a hard time halting the deal, partially because there is not a significant overlap between AOL and Time Warner's businesses. Nevertheless, a host of regulatory officials, from the federal and state attorneys general to European authorities are likely to demonstrate concern over consolidation of information markets. Though some former antitrust officials believe the job will fall to the Justice department, the agency's antitrust division and the Federal Trade Commission have not decided which agency will review the merger.