The Absurd Opposition to Media Mergers

[Commentary] Comcast-Time Warner Cable and AT&T-DirecTV are a continuation of the industry's logical progression, and both deals should be approved.

No one can prove that any such mergers have harmed American consumers. To the contrary, the US now has the most robust television industry in the world thanks to the operating efficiencies these mergers have afforded. Broadband deployment is near-ubiquitous, and though it's hard for some to admit it, the pricing models have never been fairer. Viewers, employees and shareholders have all benefited. Consumers and viewers won't gain a thing from regulators blocking the media-distribution industry's natural evolution.

[Hindery was president and CEO of TCI, Liberty Media and later AT&T Broadband. He is now an investor in independent programmers.]