AT&T, Discovery Agree To Merger Of CNN

AT&T has agreed to merge its WarnerMedia division with Discovery Communications Inc., creating a streaming giant to compete with Walt Disney’s Disney+ and Netflix.

The combined company will own channels including CNN, HBO, TNT, TBS, Animal Planet, Food Network and the Warner franchise.

Under the terms of the deal, which is structured as an all-stock transaction, AT&T would receive $43 billion in cash and debt with its shareholders controlling 71% of the new company. Discovery shareholders would own the remaining 29%. Both AT&T and Discovery’s board of directors have approved the merger, which still must be given the green light by Discovery shareholders. If approved, the transaction is expected to close in mid-2022.  

The deal comes nearly three years after AT&T closed on its $85.4 billion acquisition of Time Warner, reported Fox News.
“With a library of cherished IP, dynamite management teams and global expertise in every market in the world, we believe everyone wins … consumers with more diverse choices, talent and storytellers with more resources and compelling pathways to larger audiences, and shareholders with a globally scaled growth company committed to a strong balance sheet that is better positioned to compete with the world’s largest streamers,” said Discovery President and CEO David Zaslav in a press release.

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