Malone’s bets signal he disagrees. He has spent about $40 billion on European cable assets since abandoning the U.S. market with the TCI sale.
While U.S. cable companies have lost TV subscribers for years, they continue to add Internet customers. Consolidation can help the industry prevent further video customer erosion by unifying around a common user interface and a full array of programming available online, on all devices, Malone said in October.
“The cable industry has been very slow and very uneven,” creating opportunities for Internet-based rivals, Malone said in October. The idea that the industry can get together and solve its technology challenges “certainly increases my appetite as an investor to be willing to invest in the business through consolidation.”