AT&T and Time Warner

This is one where the actual data that will be evaluated by the agencies is crucial to forming a conclusion.
-see background information here

we've had 2 previous waves of media content+distribution conglomerates. they failed badly. no econ of scope. broke up. What's different now?

As I pointed out earlier, this question is incoherent. Consumer surplus is not a general-equilibrium concept. It holds only in a market.

Possible but no reason to think it is likely It may not even be good for the two firms. The merged entity may have too much political power.

ATT and Time Warner stocks lost $10 billion at deal announcement. Questions opportunity to raise prices and efficiency gains.

-see background information here

There are arguments pushing in either direction.

It is not clear what synergies would provide the foundation for increased consumer surplus, nor are the effects on competition clear.

This is mostly vertical integration, which should reduce double marginalization.

Bigger does not always mean worse. As a United flier ny consumer surplus went up when they merged with Continental. Don't know here.