The Mega-Merger Illusion: Are Consumers Actually Protected?

Is the government actually protecting consumers from monopolies, or just protecting corporate profit margins?In this episode, we break down the high-stakes antitrust battle over one of the largest media mega-mergers in U.S. history. Behind the courtroom drama is a fascinating microeconomic chess match involving supply-chain leverage, two-sided markets, and the ultimate ceiling on consumer pricing: the cord-cutting threshold.We analyze why federal and state regulators entirely disagree on the threat, how wholesale cost increases are passed down to retail consumers, and why massive telecom distributors are terrified of a shrinking profit pie.Topics Covered:* The Pass-Through Rate: How a broadcaster’s wholesale price hike mathematically forces a cable company to raise your monthly bill.* The Margin Squeeze: What happens when retail prices hit the “cord-cutting threshold” and distributors are forced to absorb supplier costs?For a comprehensive article and graphic study of this case, click this link: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blog.econworks.com/subscribe