Wasn't there a time when almost everyone agreed that one company owning an entire industry was bad - breaking Ma Bell??

[tulipsandroses]

What's going on with creating super companies? The CBS and ABC deals? Kroger buying up all the smaller grocery stores, etc etc ??

[SWBTATTReg]

1. The entire business world has been upended and things that were the old way evolved into new tech,

allowing new tech to pop up and create whole new industries. Those in the telephone company world pretty well got screwed, w/ their lifetime investments while working their whole lives in the telephone industry when behemoths such as Google, etc. all moved into new industries, etc.

[Deuxcents]

6. Yep. Judge Green ordered the break up of Ma Bell and some people I worked with lost their jobs

We lost our Bell Labs which was our innovation and technical support. It was a mess because there was little information and plenty of rumors and speculation while trying to keep our jobs.

[OC375]

2. Antitrust Laws

I remember from high school and college. Wow, was I naive. I think “Too big to fail.” replaced them.

[ProfessorGAC]

3. Sure Was

The railroads, the ships, the petroleum industry...
And the trust busters were right!

[malaise]

4. TThe sad truth is that way too many mergers have been facilitated by both parties

So here we are

[Bengus81]

5. Long ago anti-trust laws were really enforced. Now....not for decades and decades

[Wiz Imp]

7. There is no "ABC Deal"

There's a Nexstar deal. Nexstar owns only about 10% of ABC's stations At most, 15% of Nexstar owned stations are ABC affiliates.

ABC has no involvement whatsoever in Nexstar trying to merge with another company.

[Buzz cook]

8. Sadly both sides are guilty

I remember when Standard Oil was allowed to get back together. That was one of the most infamous trusts that was busted.
It was like admitting that a new guilde age was kust around the corner.