IPFS News Link • Business/ Commerce
Trump's CNN tirade may affect Time Warner-AT&T merger
• http://nypost.comIs this any way to start off a relationship?
Nine days before CNN parent Time Warner will have to negotiate with Donald Trump's antitrust cops, the cable news network got a dressing down by the President-elect.
"Your organization is terrible," Trump told CNN reporter Jim Acosta when he tried to ask a question during Wednesday's news conference.
"Quiet, quiet," Trump admonished when it was clear the journalist would not be chosen for a question.
As Acosta persisted, Trump said, "Don't be rude." When that didn't work, Trump barked: "You are fake news."
The confrontation grew from a controversial story CNN published Tuesday about Trump being presented at a Jan. 6 meeting with intelligence experts a two-page synopsis with allegations that Russian operatives claim to have compromising personal and financial information on the president-elect.
Both Trump and Russian authorities called the claims nonsense.
While Trump's rebuke was stark enough, it came as his Justice Department will start to investigate the antitrust implications of AT&T's $85 billion merger with Time Warner.
Trump said on the campaign trail that he wouldn't approve the deal.
It was much debated in media circles if the press conference run-in would move the needle on Trump's stance.
Some pondered whether Time Warner would have to sell off CNN to get the deal approved.
"If AT&T had to spin off CNN to get the deal approved, I suspect they would be willing to do so," said analyst Craig Moffett of MoffettNathanson.
"Based on everything AT&T has said publicly, their principal interest is in Time Warner's entertainment properties, not their news business."
The AT&T acquisition which comes not long after a deal to acquire satellite TV provider DirecTV, will be scrutinized both by the House Judiciary Committee and by Justice.