Ondrej Holzman Interesting news came from the media world. Talk is getting louder about the possible sale of the media conglomerate Time Warner, one of the largest television networks in the world, and the situation is to be watched closely by Apple, among other companies. For him, the potential acquisition could be key in further development.
For now, it must be said that Time Warner is definitely not for sale, however, its CEO Jeff Bewkes has not ruled out this possibility. Time Warner is being pressured by investors to sell either the entire company, or at least some divisions, which include, for example, HBO.
Time Warner is being pushed to sell by New York Post, which with the message he came, especially due to the fact that, unlike other media companies, it does not have a dual shareholder structure. In addition to Apple, AT&T, which owns DirecTV, and Fox are also said to be interested in the acquisition.
For Apple, the purchase of Time Warner could mean a major breakthrough in the development of the ecosystem around its new Apple TV. It has been rumored for a long time that the Californian company plans to offer a package of selected popular programs for a monthly subscription, which it would like to compete with both established cable TVs and, for example, Netflix and other streaming services.
But so far, Eddy Cue, who should be the main character in these negotiations, has not managed to negotiate the necessary contracts. Therefore, he is now monitoring the situation around Time Warner, whose acquisition could turn the tables. Apple would suddenly acquire, for example, CNN news for its offer, and HBO with its series such as would be essential Game of Thrones.
It is with HBO that Apple has already concluded cooperation for its fourth-generation set-top box, when in the United States it offers the so-called HBO Now. However, for a relatively high fee ($15), this package only includes HBO, which is not enough. Even if in the end Time Warner was not sold in its entirety, but only its parts, Apple would certainly desire HBO. Bewkes is said to have rejected the sale of HBO at a meeting with investors, but the sale of the entire media colossus remains in play.
Apple believes that if it can bundle popular stations as well as live sports, and at the same time set the right price, users will be willing to move away from cable boxes with hundreds of programs. By acquiring Time Warner, it could immediately offer HBO "for free" in such a package. If the sale is indeed discussed, with more than 200 billion dollars in its account, Apple will have no problem being a hot candidate.
