NCTA Won't Contest News Corp.-DirecTV
By Ted Hearn -- Multichannel News, 4/11/2003 2:02:00 PM
Cable respects News Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch as a tough competitor, but the industry is unlikely to seek government conditions on Murdoch's proposed takeover of DirecTV Inc.
For many years, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association has refrained from seeking conditions on mergers involving broadcasting and phone companies, even though doing so might have given cable a competitive advantage.
Although DirecTV in Murdoch's hands scares some in cable, the NCTA is unlikely to lead a merger-opponent group at the Federal Communications Commission, the Department of Justice or the Federal Trade Commission.
Still, the proposed merger is expected to get a thorough scrubbing by Congress and regulators. Murdoch was to meet Friday with Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-La.), the House Energy and Commerce Committee chairman.
"Given the size of the proposed deal, as well as its impact in the marketplace, chairman Tauzin wants to talk to Murdoch and [General Motors Corp. CEO] Rick Wagoner before passing judgment," Tauzin spokesman Ken Johnson said.
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