Giant media merger in jeopardy

Comcast-Time Warner marriage may not make it to altar due to strong opposition from US government

US Federal Communications Commission staff joined lawyers at the Justice Department in opposing the planned merger of Comcast Corp and Time Warner Cable Inc, dealing a major blow to the $45.2 billion transaction.

Representatives of the two biggest US cable companies were told that FCC officials are leaning toward concluding the merger doesn't help consumers, according to a person with knowledge of the situation, who asked for anonymity because the discussions aren't public. Justice Department staff are leaning against the deal, Bloomberg News reported last week.