Bewkes: AT&T-Time Warner Merger Creates Advertising Competition

Facing the prospect of a lengthy review of its acquisition by AT&T, Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes said the transaction would spur consumer choice and competition in the digital advertising industry. Speaking on Time Warner’s earnings call with analysts, Bewkes said that both companies are committed to meeting the conditions necessary to clear regulatory hurdles and close the deal. But Time Warner believes the vertical merger is pro-competitive.
Bewkes noted that the digital advertising business has become increasingly concentrated, with Facebook and Google gaining big and growing shares of that market. The combination of AT&T and Time Warner would be able to offer advertisers more choice and new ad options that could prove to be more efficient and effective. “It has great benefits for advertisers because it gives them more effective advertising and it gives them more competition in advertising,” he said.