In N.Y., Kang & de la Merced report DOJ staff members in the antitrust office have been "doggedly investigating" AT&T’s $85.4B bid for Time Warner. The "most significant business deal" put before the Trump administration has been "effectively put into limbo." The deal is "still expected to be approved because AT&T and Time Warner don’t directly compete." But the deal is "potentially trickier from an antitrust perspective" because AT&T has a "nationwide footprint with its wireless and DirecTV satellite service, and could use that reach to demand higher fees from media companies and other cable and satellite firms." Sources said that the attorneys general "asked whether AT&T would charge competitors like Dish higher fees for Time Warner content such as HBO shows" and NBA games on TNT" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/10).
HAWK IS A LEGEND: In Chicago, Daryl Van Schouwen noted White Sox TV analyst Steve Stone wishes partner Hawk Harrelson be "honored with the Ford Frick Award." Harrelson will retire from the broadcast booth after the '18 MLB season, and Stone said, "That would be a crowning glory for Hawk, and one he deserves. Hopefully the voters will look to Hawk as a man who dedicated his whole life to baseball and bring him into a very small tent and very elite club. And I believe it’s going to happen." Harrelson has been a finalist for the Frick Award three times (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 7/9).
TWO SIDES TO THE STORY: In Miami, Greg Cote noted ESPN The Magazine's ninth annual "Body" issue, which was recently released, "celebrates the athletic form with artfully nude (non-explicit) photography." There is "argument on either side whether this concept is wonderful or awful." It is "wonderful because it is empowering; not only perfect bodies are shown." Athletes "should be proud of their bodies." However, it is "awful because it is exploitative and it is the ultimate in athlete ego-stroking -- narcissism on parade" (MIAMIHERALD.com, 7/8).
