Thread regarding AT&T layoffs

'Do something revolutionary, stop making dumb decisions that are costing folks like myself their jobs!!'

It's like the dope that posted this somehow has not heard about DIRECTV NOW.

So Time Warner, which owns HBO, CNN, TNT, TBS, the Warner Brothers movie studio and more, presents an easy way for AT&T to scoop up a vast store of content. But consider the price. At $100 a share, or $105 billion, AT&T would pay an enterprise value (or stock market value net of debt and cash) of 11.5 times earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, according to Wells Fargo Securities Marci Ryvicker. That compares with 6.6 times for AT&T, and it would be difficult to come up with cost cuts to justify the premium. AT&T already has $127 billion in debt, mostly bonds, following its buyout last year of DTV for $67 billion in cash and stock. That makes it the fifth largest debtor in U.S. investment-grade bond indexes. Time Warner owes $24 billion. That’s why AT&T shares have been falling faster than the Niagara Falls

Old folks the new expendables, can't keep up wit technology

It's definitely rumor, but it's Time Warner Inc. Not Time Warner Cable. At least that's what the business media is reporting. It's definitely speculation but the WSJ also states it's possibly happening sooner, than later. We will ALL see. But the driver is definitely for content.

@1qjr I'd agree that the industry transformation is exciting. But not for the reasons of your disjointed premise. Content is the new currency, att is so late to this party and so not innovative that they won't really know what to do with any of this. Comcast bought dreamworks, vz bought aol and yahoo, and now t wants TW. For what? To wait and see how the aforementioned will monetize?

The culture isn't there to leverage any new media company unless TW is allowed full autonomy, which is doubtful.

What's exciting is learning from this cautionary tale. Pivoting by building your own individual brand. Not selling used cars and pixie dust. And developing personal multiple steam incomes on and offline. And not depending on one job.

It's unfortunate many of you in the wider at&t land worry so much about loosing your job you can't see what a great opportunity this is for completely transforming the business. It's been stated by many analysts and entertainment executives that the DTV acquisition was a stepping stone towards an end state and a vastly different T in the future. Of course, that's not really much comfort for those of us in El Segundo that will end up being half the size, or less in a couple of years. Some areas like content will be the strong anchor, but many will be relocated to Dallas before it's over, if even retained. I agree on a personal level it creates anxiety. It's just business. Nothing stands still for long.

Agreed twc and twi are dinstinct and separate. This is still cause for alarm though. This deal is way over Randall's skill set. If he can easily stagnate and destroy some of the most promising initiatives in T's portfolio: labs, foundry etc. what will he do to twi?

Its all still outrageous. It's like making Randall in charge of Google or Apple these companies are not in his wheelhouse.

Folks, they are interested in buying Time Warner Inc. Not Time Warner Cable. They are two different Time Warner company's. Time Warner Inc has the rights to Warner Bros, HBO, Cinemax, etc. Its not what everyone is overreacting about. However, now I feel bad for the people who work for D.C comics and the DCU.

Unchecked power and a blank checkbook. This doesn't end well.

Board members start asking better questions!!! Recruit folks like Meg, Bezos, Zuck. If Randy wants to be a leader of an internet company align him with people that will help him pivot and encourage a cultural change to facilitate innovation. Untangle him from being a Chairman. Take back some control. Vet his ideas. Don't let him ruin this company because he was unable to truly pivot.

The audacity of the folks at the top to consider this deal is beyond me. Ink from the DTV deal hasn't even dried yet, WTF?? Pay TV will be a thing of the past soon, mark my words. AT&T expects people to watch TV 24/7/365, walking down the street with a device in hand, while on the toilet clearing out the large intestine aka taking a "Randall Stephenson" or maybe even while driving. It's not sustainable folks. People want OTT services and streaming. Do something revolutionary, stop making dumb decisions that are costing folks like myself their jobs!!

MERGER TALKS VIDEO

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-10-20/at-t-said-to-discuss-idea-of-takeover-in-time-warner-meetings

I think it's cool to see stockholders (non employees) comment. In fact it's they who Randall is accountable to...at least in theory and on paper.

Maybe he'll listen to them. I'd like to see more comment here.

I just saw a post about the F-C-C not approving this deal go missing??? why would this site be deleting posts. It didn't mention ANY names.

Must be some truth there....

Let's just hope that Randy doesn't put together another sweetheart deal whereby TWC gets 8 billion if the deal doesn't go through (like TMobile did).

I've heard that TWC's culture is just as bad as ATT and has been so for a long time. So it might provide a great "synergy".

Bad culture united.

"There are other analysts (who sing Stephenson's praises) I can't imagine what some of them are smoking. One seems to be waiting for this magical turnaround."

This is pretty much what my advisor told me. Full disclosure he stated. Recommended that I do some research on my own and make my decision. He said that it wasn't something that was going to happen today or tomorrow or even next month, but (in his opinion) the reckoning was coming. After spending some time today looking around and reading up on his exploits, I think he's got a good point. And you're VERY right about allowing the CEO to also act as Chairman. Who the heck allows that? I hear foxes make very good henhouse guards!

I can't see this being allowed by the FCC because time warner just merged with charter and At&T did the same with Directv. Wouldn't that created a monopoly for most areas in the United States?

There are other analysts (who sing Stephenson's praises) I can't imagine what some of them are smoking. One seems to be waiting for this magical turnaround. I think the waiting with baited breath is coming ONLY from Stephenson on his dog and pony shows. He's sold a lot of wolf tickets.

Now he's working his spreadsheets and looking for the next hit. It seems like some sort of addiction. And no one will step in and tell him that he's out of control. Likely because of the dividends on the stock, which has been propped up for a long time full of Randy pixie dust and his spin doctors.

This will go down in Management school history on more compelling reasons why you should never make a CEO also a Chairman, there's no accountability and no one puts the kabash on ANYTHING until its much too late.

Feel sorry for T employees,

A stockholder here, I found this site in a search. I've been trying to figure out what Stephenson is up to, and I swear, he's like a formerly poor person who just won the lottery. I had a talk with my financial advisor today, he called me recommending a sell on T stock. Said that his company had been on the fence about this, but the more they look at it, they are losing confidence in the CEO. After listening to him, and now doing my own research, I'm beginning to believe he's got some legitimate points. I'm pretty well convinced to sell and take my profits and move on. Not trying to sound dramatic, but he seems to be out of control.

Get ready to pivot TW folk Randall won't be satisfied until he ruins everything in his path to 2020

Don't believe their spiel when they start telling you not to worry, we'll easily absorb all you guys. It's a giant lie.

Time Warner employees, you better polish up your resumes and start looking. Your employment days are numbered.