AT&T has finally announced acquiring Time Warner for $85,4 billion. The move gives one of the US' largest telecoms control over some of the biggest names in movies and TV, including HBO, Turner and Warner Bros. That includes rights to broadcast MLB, NBA and NCAA March Madness games, we'd add. However, there are no guarantees that it'll close by the end of 2017 as AT&T expects. While the boards of both companies are unanimously in favor of the merger, regulators are likely to take a very, very close look at this purchase for hints of unfair competition. Owning Time Warner gives an advantage to AT&T to broadcast license premium video, if they offer a video service at all. This helps it prepare for a future where internet streams dominate the media landscape. #softwarepride #att #hbo #timewarner #movies #manhattan #tech #business #technews #mobile #mobilecarrier #news #acquisition #hitech #broadcasting (at Manhattan, New York)