Time Warner Cable, which has a market value of $38 billion, has been circled by Comcast and Charter Communications, with the rivals reportedly considering joint or solo bids for the company.
According to the Financial Times, representatives at Time Warner Cable approached Comcast to rival Charter’s interest, and the Philadelphia-based company emerged as a potential suitor on Friday last week.
The size of the deal could represent a problem, with a range of regulatory obstacles likely to get in the way, particularly because the two companies operate as US pay-TV and broadband providers.
A joint bid made by Comcast and Charter could see a break-up of Time Warner Cable’s assets, but so far, the companies are not in direct contact with each other.
Charter’s largest shareholder is the John Malone-owned Liberty Media.
