Disney Gets Green Light From DOJ on Acquiring Fox with an Expected Catch

The Department of Justice has officially given the greenlight for Disney to acquire Fox. There is one catch, but many saw it coming and are expecting it to not pose any problems. The caveat is that Disney must “carve out Fox’s regional sports networks over ESPN-related monopoly concerns.” Assistant Attorney General of the DOJ’s Antitrust Division, Makan Delrahim, said this:

“American consumers have benefitted from head-to-head competition between Disney and Fox’s cable sports programming that ultimately has prevented cable television subscription prices from rising even higher. Today’s settlement will ensure that sports programming competition is preserved in the local markets where Disney and Fox compete for cable and satellite distribution.”

This is a major hurdle that Disney has passed that will definitely give them the upper hand against Comcast. Technically, Comcast is still in the game and Disney will have more regulatory agencies weighing in on the matter, but it’s becoming more and more likely that Disney will come out victorious in the not too distant future. Before this decision was announced, they already stated that it would divest the RSNs. Your move Comcast.

Source: Deadline