US cable company Charter Communications announced today it is acquiring rival Time Warner Cable in a deal valued at USD 78.7 billion, in a major consolidation on the American market.
The deal will involve a major financial package for the cable giant that was also courted by France's Altice in exploratory talks.
Charter is giving $195 per share and $100 in cash, for the number two company in the US market, it said.
If successful, the merger would mark a major consolidation in the industry, something that does not always happen smoothly in the United States.
Comcast had planned a merger with TWC that was blocked by regulatory authorities.
Charter also owns smaller media network Bright House, and the deal would make it a major player in the country's market as cable providers scramble to stay lean and aggressive during an explosion in online media.
