US: Small TV groups face uncertainty in mega-merger climate

As the largest media conglomerates in the nation strike monumental merger plans, smaller television groups like AMC Networks and Discover Communications are facing an uncertain future.

Reports say those groups are bracing for an overhaul of the broadcasting industry ahead of AT&T’s planned acquisition of DirecTV, Comcast’s proposed merger with Time Warner Cable, and Twenty First Century Fox’s pursuit of Time Warner. The multibillion dollar deals will almost certainly change the media landscape, but for smaller competitors, it remains to be seen just what those changes will be.

Independent health and wellness network Veria Living chief executive Eric Sherman expressed some of those doubts. “The more these already large companies become even larger and have more market power, it just shuts down the opportunity for smaller networks that just don’t have the leverage,” he said.

Veria Living said it is open to exploring possible partnerships as a way to compete in the wake of the planned mergers.

According to analysts, anyone is fair game in the media industry for takeovers. Fox, for example, had eyed smaller networks Scripps and Univision before deciding to pursuit Time Warner. The smaller TV groups, experts say, could merge or be acquired as the industry continues its massive overhaul.

Full content: Boston.com

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