Has The Entire American Media Been Bought and Gone To Sleep?

July 2, 2001 12:36 PM

Has The Entire American Media Been Bought and Gone To Sleep? United has decided to call off merging with US Air for fears of Antitrust (competition) objections (from the USDOJ; perhaps the EU as well?). This sort of obvious realization came after months and months of, presumedly, attempting to work around the problem. What I want to know is, when the proposed deal was first announced, where were the objections from commentators and consumer advocates? It's sort of pathetic that United is the first one to speak up on the issue, no?
posted by ParisParamus (12 comments total)

When the law's working as intended, what is there to "speak up" about?
posted by kindall at 1:33 PM on July 2, 2001

Well I've been up way too long. I just did a spit take, accidentally reading the first sentence as: United has decided to call off merging with US Air Force fears ...
posted by nathan_teske at 1:44 PM on July 2, 2001

ABC, over a month ago. The news is out there, it's just not sexy enough for prime time!
posted by greensweater at 1:48 PM on July 2, 2001

I heard two radio commentators put up the red flag, and read several columns bring up the issue. What do you want, a song and dance about it?
posted by girard31 at 1:53 PM on July 2, 2001

As a trusted member of the U.S. Air Force, I could be quite valuable in rounding up other airmen to toil in the salt mines of our new corporate overlords.
posted by davidmsc at 2:13 PM on July 2, 2001

When the law's working as intended, what is there to "speak up" about?

Hope you're saying this in jest....
posted by ParisParamus at 3:07 PM on July 2, 2001

Where were the objections of consumer advocates?

Since when did the general public give a damn about the few who advocate on their behalf? Methinks you think too much and worship Britney Spears not enough.

Here's an antitrust primer from Nader.
posted by fleener at 3:12 PM on July 2, 2001

Of course I'm not saying it in jest. The purpose of the law is to allow the government to stop mergers when it conflicts with the public interest. In this case, that is exactly what it has done -- the two companies decided not to even go forward with their plans because, after due consideration, they determined there probably wasn't any way they could pass antitrust scrutiny.

In other words, the law worked as intended. Where's the story again?
posted by kindall at 3:12 PM on July 2, 2001

I would have wanted a song and dance which, at least, didn't sound like it was written by the PR people of the two companies. When merger talk amongst oligopolists includes the phrases "the merger will make for a stronger company" and the merger will "benefit consumers," WATCH OUT. Wouldn't it be nice to have one or two airlines...frequent flyer miles would be SO easy to accumulate!
posted by ParisParamus at 3:12 PM on July 2, 2001

Maybe the consumer advocates just decided to take a break from crying wolf so much.
posted by kindall at 3:15 PM on July 2, 2001

Kindall: Ill be sure to turn to you when Exxon and Shell merge.
posted by ParisParamus at 3:20 PM on July 2, 2001

Hey, it's not my job to stop that. You gotta pay me a lot more.
posted by kindall at 3:21 PM on July 2, 2001