Report: Talk of CNN-ABC News Merger

[John Corn]

AOL Time Warner Inc. and Walt Disney Co. have held talks about merging their CNN and ABC News divisions into "a stand-alone news powerhouse," the Los Angeles Times reported on Tuesday.

The newspaper, citing sources familiar with the situation, added the negotiations got a lukewarm reception last week at an AOL Time Warner board meeting.

The talks had been sporadic for 18 months, but gained momentum in recent weeks, the Times quoted sources as saying.

Full Story (http://tv.yahoo.com/news/va/20020924/103286904800.html)

[gcutler]

"News Powerhouse"? Basically there will end up being alot of unemployed news people if that happens, with little benefit (unless you believe there are tooo many news agencies, and the merger gets rid of one). I doubt the combined entity would be more efficient, just two channels using the same backend facilities and such.

[AJ2086]

They will probably do like MSNBC it would be like
A
B
CNN

[Pete K.]

Naw, they'll call it "House of Mouse News Network," or "The Wonderful
World of AOL."

[Guest]

Didnt Time Warner cable originally pull the Disney ABC stations awhile ago? Things have changed. TW & Disney teaming up, Echostar & DirecTV wanting to team up....

[John Corn]

Well, if they decide to "mickey mouse" the NEWS, at least their more qualified to do so then say FOX NEWS!!!!!! :D

[Jmartz]

I can see it now...

The huge and intrusive graphics moving to all the ABC News products.. (World News this Morning, GMA, World News Tonight, Nightline...) And the anoying animated ticker on the bottom of the screen.

[Steve Mehs]

Didnt Time Warner cable originally pull the Disney ABC stations awhile ago?

Yup. A few years ago some TW franchises temporally pulled local ABC affiliates because Disney wanted Toon Disney and Soap Net to be included in basic line ups.

[jrjcd]

better yet-try to imagine "THIS IS CNN!" IN THAT SQUEAKY MICKY MOUSE VOICE...LOL

[James_F]

Hey if CNN-ABCNews-CBSNews-CNBC-MSNBC-FOXNews merge, then I'll only have to ignore 1 channel. :bang: