The decision would most likely have paved the way for other vertical media mergers to commence–Verizon, Charter and Discovery are all eyeing content companies primed for acquisition while Sprint and T-Mobile may join forces to combat AT&T.
Craig Moffett of MoffettNathanson told CNBC that the original ruling by Judge Leon was so decisive that there aren’t a lot of concrete arguments to be made for the appeal. Nonetheless, he did mention that the Justice Department may try dissent the ruling with the idea that AT&T wouldn’t take into consideration its status as an integrated company during its negotiation of programming agreements.
“It’s just not a terribly credible argument to say that an integrated company doesn’t take into account that it’s an integrated company and, if you reject that premise, I suppose there’s at least a little sliver of a window to say that there’s a basis for an appeal here,” said Moffet.
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