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Market foreclosure and vertical merger: A case study of the vertical merger between Turner Broadcasting and Time Warner

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  • Suzuki, Ayako

Abstract

We employ an event-study methodology, the event being the vertical merger between Time Warner and Turner Broadcasting, distribution and programming, respectively, in the cable television industry. We assess the effects of the merger on final prices, subscriptions, and carriage and marketing decisions of Time Warner. The analysis finds several interesting facts. First, foreclosure in Time Warner markets following the merger is observed for the rival channels that are not integrated with any cable distributors. Second, the Turner Broadcasting channels that increased market shares because of this merger appeared to be foreclosed by Time Warner prior to the merger. The preference for own channels by Time Warner persisted, despite a lower quality of channel bundles in its markets; efficiency gains from the merger were not passed on to consumers.

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  • Suzuki, Ayako, 2009. "Market foreclosure and vertical merger: A case study of the vertical merger between Turner Broadcasting and Time Warner," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 27(4), pages 532-543, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:indorg:v:27:y:2009:i:4:p:532-543
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    3. Kuroda, Toshifumi & Baquero Forero, Maria del Pilar, 2017. "The effects of spectrum allocation mechanisms on market outcomes: Auctions vs beauty contests," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(5), pages 341-354.
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    5. Gregory S. Crawford & Robin S. Lee & Michael D. Whinston & Ali Yurukoglu, 2018. "The Welfare Effects of Vertical Integration in Multichannel Television Markets," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 86(3), pages 891-954, May.
    6. Christopher Yoo, 2014. "Merger Review by the Federal Communications Commission: Comcast–NBC Universal," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 45(3), pages 295-321, November.
    7. Margaret E. Slade, 2021. "Vertical Mergers: A Survey of Ex Post Evidence and Ex Ante Evaluation Methods," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 58(4), pages 493-511, June.
    8. Rakesh Basant & Pulak Mishra, 2019. "Impact of Vertical Integration on Market Power in Indian Manufacturing Sector During the Post-Reform Period," Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 561-581, December.
    9. Francine Lafontaine & Margaret E. Slade, 2021. "Presumptions in Vertical Mergers: The Role of Evidence," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 59(2), pages 255-272, September.
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    11. In Kyung Kim & Vladyslav Nora, 2017. "Does Vertical Integration Enhance Non-Price Efficiency? Evidence from the Movie Theater Industry," Working Papers 1701, Nazarbayev University, Department of Economics, revised Feb 2018.
    12. Konstantinos G. Papadopoulos & Emmanuel Petrakis & Panagiotis Skartados, 2022. "The ambiguous competitive effects of passive partial forward ownership," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 89(2), pages 540-568, October.
    13. Kensuke Kubo, 2011. "Explaining vertical integration in the generic pharmaceutical industry," Discussion Papers 11-02, Indian Statistical Institute, Delhi.
    14. In Kyung Kim & Vladyslav Nora, 2020. "Does vertical integration enhance non-price efficiency? Evidence from the movie theater industry," Review of Economic Design, Springer;Society for Economic Design, vol. 24(3), pages 143-170, December.
    15. Avinadav, Tal & Chernonog, Tatyana & Perlman, Yael, 2017. "Mergers and acquisitions between risk-averse parties," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 259(3), pages 926-934.
    16. Papadopoulos, Konstantinos G. & Petrakis, Emmanuel & Skartados, Panagiotis, 2021. "The ambiguous competitive effects of passive partial forward integration," UC3M Working papers. Economics 33354, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. Departamento de Economía.

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