Showbiz Sandbox 390: The Government Takes Aim At Media Mega Mergers and Net Neutrality
Summary: The Justice Department filed suit to block the merger of AT&T and TimeWarner. Since President Donald Trump promised to oppose the deal and repeatedly complained about CNN news coverage many see this as political payback. Ironically, however, many impartial observers agree with the Trump administration’s stance, just not for the same reasons. They see the merger as a questionable convergence of media power and vertical integration.<br> At the same time the Ajit Pai, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission wants to kill net neutrality regulations that he claims are crippling the internet. Pai’s proposal, which is certain to pass in December, is despised by consumer groups, tech companies and just about everyone other than the handful of giant telecommunications companies it is aimed to help.<br> Meanwhile, the number of sexual harassment allegations against power players in Hollywood, the media and politics continues to grow, though now we’re calling it sexual misconduct. We’ll touch on the latest entrants to the list including journalist Charlie Rose and Pixar’s John Lasseter.<br> Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment news including Netflix’s first Colombian production, Time Inc. gets a new owner, and the nominations for this year’s Spirit Awards.<br> <br> comScore Announces Official Worldwide Box Office Results for Weekend of November 26, 2017<br><br> <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comscore-announces-official-worldwide-box-office-results-for-weekend-of-november-26-2017-300561623.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comscore-announces-official-worldwide-box-office-results-for-weekend-of-november-26-2017-300561623.html</a><br> Wanda Sony Pictures Financing And Marketing Deal Is Over<br><br> <a href="http://variety.com/2017/film/asia/wanda-sony-pictures-finance-deal-halted-1202620411/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://variety.com/2017/film/asia/wanda-sony-pictures-finance-deal-halted-1202620411/</a><br> Spirit Awards Nominations Led by ‘Call Me by Your Name’<br><br> <a href="http://variety.com/2017/film/awards/spirit-awards-nominations-2018-call-me-by-your-name-1202620662/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://variety.com/2017/film/awards/spirit-awards-nominations-2018-call-me-by-your-name-1202620662/</a><br> Murder On The Orient Express Sequel In The Works<br><br> <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/murder-orient-express-sequel-works-1060513" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/murder-orient-express-sequel-works-1060513</a><br> FCC Plans Net Neutrality Repeal in a Victory for Telecoms<br><br> <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/21/technology/fcc-net-neutrality.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/21/technology/fcc-net-neutrality.html</a><br> FCC Chairman Proposes Repeal of Net Neutrality Rules<br><br> <a href="http://variety.com/2017/politics/news/fcc-net-neutrality-repeal-1202620531/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://variety.com/2017/politics/news/fcc-net-neutrality-repeal-1202620531/</a><br> FCC Eyes Raising TV Station Ownership Cap Amid Sinclair-Tribune Merger Review<br><br> <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/fcc-national-ownership-cap-sinclair-tribune-1202620605/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/fcc-national-ownership-cap-sinclair-tribune-1202620605/</a><br> Justice Department Sues to Block AT&T-Time Warner Merger<br><br> <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/20/business/dealbook/att-time-warner-merger.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/20/business/dealbook/att-time-warner-merger.html</a><br> U.S. Faces Tough Battle Proving AT&T Would Use Time Warner to Squeeze Competition<br><br> <a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-att-time-warner-20171121-story.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://www.</a>
