tw said: So that AT&T could innovate more and also be content providers. Data transporters (baby Bells) only transported data.
I believe AT&T managed to push through their buy of Time-Warner, which means a telephone service provider now owns (pasted from a search result):
HBO
Turner Broadcasting System
The CW Television Network
Warner Bros.
CNN
DC Comics
and as of August 2016, Hulu, owning 10%.
In the past, other major divisions of Time Warner included Time Inc., AOL, Time Warner Cable, Warner Books and Warner Music Group.
A big concern among tv fans on a budget is that with AT&T owning HBO, The CW, and DC, content like say Game of Thrones, Supernatural, and anything Batman or Superman would be completely under the control of AT&T, from scripting to casting to denying availability to non-AT&T customers. Not sayin' I'm sure about that happening, but I've talked to many people lately who would be absolutely crushed to have so much popular content in a position to be withheld...especially in areas that don't get AT&T service!
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