Showbiz Sandbox 225: Comcast and TimeWarner Cable Is A Marriage Made In….

February 17, 2014

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The proposed merger of Comcast and TimeWarner Cable has presented industry analysts with a number of complicated questions. Providing some of the answers is David Gelles, a business reporter for the New York Times, who joins us to provide background and insight into a transformative $45 billion deal that would combine the two largest media and technology providers in North America.

Though there are no legislative restrictions, will the U.S. government try to prevent to the two cable giants from consolidating? What concessions will the regulators ask of Comcast if allowing the merger to go through? How will consolidation give Comcast leverage in negotiations with content providers? Would the combined companies have too much control over the media? Most importantly, what does all of this mean for consumers?

Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, the BAFTA awards were handed out over the weekend to films with strong British ties. That wasn’t the case at the Berlin Film Festival where Chinese movies took home the top prizes.

Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news stories including Jimmy Fallon’s “Tonight Show” debut, actress Ellen Page’s inspiring coming-out speech, and an update on actor Shia Labeouf’s latest performance art stunt.

Shirley Temple Dead: Legendary Child Star Dies at 85
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/shirley-temple-dead-legendary-child-677643

Shirley Temple’s 1997 Oscar Appearance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WlDvrqGuzA

Sid Caesar Dead: Comedy Titan Was 91
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sid-caesar-dead-comedy-titan-679817

‘Lego’ Stuns With $63.5 Million Second Weekend; ‘About Last Night’ Opens to $28.5 Million
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-lego-stuns-635-680751

Gravity Emerges as Biggest Winner at the 2014 BAFTA Ceremony
http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/feb/16/gravity-biggest-winner-bafta-awards-baftas

Complete List of BAFTA 2014 Nominees and Winners
http://awards.bafta.org/award/2014/film

China’s Film Industry Celebrates Berlinale Triumph
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/chinas-film-industry-celebrates-berlinale-680735

Ellen Page Comes Out as Gay: ‘I Am Tired of Lying by Omission’
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ellen-page-comes-as-gay-680563

E! Deletes Story Mocking Ellen Page Following Her Coming Out Speech
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ellen-page-comes-e-deletes-680618

Seth Meyers Names ‘SNL’ Pal Fred Armisen ‘Late Night’ Bandleader
http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/seth-meyers-names-snl-pal-fred-armisen-late-night-bandleader-20140210

Authors Tell Penguin: Pulp Our Books Too
http://www.gulf-times.com/india/185/details/381502/authors-tell-penguin:-pulp-our-books-too

Shia LaBeouf Launches Bizarre Public Performance Art Piece
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/shia-labeouf-launches-bizarre-public-679414

Jerry O’Connell Copies Shia LaBeouf Who Copies Marina Abramovic
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-jerry-oconnell-copies-shia-labeoufs-copying-of-marina-abramovic20140212,0,5979457.story

Sochi Olympics Put ‘Today’ Back on Top
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tv-ratings-sochi-olympics-put-679436

TV Ratings: ‘GMA’ Gets Olympic Edge Over ‘Today’ for First Time Ever
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tv-ratings-gma-gets-olympic-679855

Sochi: Meredith Vieira to Make Olympic History Filling in for Bob Costas
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/sochi-meredith-vieira-make-olympic-680354

Woman Jailed for Overdue VHS of Jennifer Lopez’s ‘Monster in Law’ (Video)
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/woman-jailed-overdue-vhs-jennifer-680621

Why Simon Cowell Couldn’t Save ‘X Factor’
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/why-simon-cowell-couldnt-save-679565

Comcast Deal Seeks to Unite 2 Cable Giants
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/02/12/comcast-set-to-acquire-time-warner-cable/?hp

Paul Krugman: Barons of Broadband
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/17/opinion/krugman-barons-of-broadband.html

5 Ways The Comcast-Time Warner Cable Deal Could Ruin TV and The Internet
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/13/comcast-time-warner-deal_n_4783598.html

Amid Political Pressure, FCC to Propose Net Neutrality Fix
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57618748-94/amid-political-pressure-fcc-to-propose-net-neutrality-fix/

The Master Switch: The Rise and Fall of Information Empires by Tim Wu
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307390993/ref=as_….

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