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Because it's considered "vertical integration" and therefore not subject to anti-trust laws. Comcast merging with Time Warner would be considered horizontal; Co
by graedus 13y ago
Because it's considered "vertical integration" and therefore not subject to anti-trust laws. Comcast merging with Time Warner would be considered horizontal; Comcast merging with NBCU was considered vertical and therefore allowed to go forward in January 2011.
I'm currently reading Susan Crawford's book Captive Audience, which is a detailed history of this exact topic. Recommended. Here's a talk she gave at Harvard summarizing the story and issues at stake: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R4xhwy-1oI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R4xhwy-1oI
- pessimizer 13y agoSince when has vertical integration not been subject to antitrust laws? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Paramount_Pictures,_Inc https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Paramount_Pic....
- graedus 13y agoNot sure, but since at least 2011 :) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comcast_NBC_merger http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comcast_NBC_merger (thanks for the link, interesting reading)
- smackfu 13y agoIt definitely is. The Comcast / NBC merger had to be approved by the DOJ who only allowed it with conditions. http://www.ustelecom.org/news/newsletters/broadband-connection-depth/depth-comcast-nbc-merger-commitments http://www.ustelecom.org/news/newsletters/broadband-connecti...