Sports Fan Coalition Wants Comcast/TWC Blocked

Federal and state regulators should “make a goal-line stand” and block Comcast 's planned buy of Time Warner Cable, said the Sports Fan Coalition in a news release Tuesday. The coalition opposes the deal because both companies have a track record “of acquiring and hoarding the rights to sports programming, and then restricting fans' access to telecasts of local teams,” said the group. The deal would give Comcast “the leverage and incentive” to restrict the availability of over-the-top programming from competitors, said the group. "The facts and economics clearly show that this proposed merger would empower Comcast to engage in even more of the anticompetitive behavior sports fans have faced in markets throughout the country," said coalition Chairman David Goodfriend. The Department of Justice is giving close scrutiny to the deal (see 1504200049).