Charter CEO Chris Winfrey Addresses “Chatter” About Potential Blockbuster Merger With Comcast, Doesn’t See “Wide-Open” Path To Deal Under Donald Trump

deadline.com:

Charter CEO Chris Winfrey acknowledged the “chatter” in the media business and on Wall Street about a potential merger with Comcast, but said such a megadeal is not “core” to his company’s strategy.

During a conference call with analysts to discuss Charter’s better-than-expected fourth-quarter results, Winfrey was asked directly about a Comcast tie-up and his view of M&A more broadly.

The top exec didn’t completely rule out dealmaking, but said closing a transaction with another major player won’t necessarily be any easier during the Donald Trump administration. “I know there’s a lot of chatter out there” about Comcast, Winfrey said.

But Charter’s strategy, he continued, “has never been dependent on M&A. In fact, it’s really been moving purely from an organic growth perspective, and how do we create value for shareholders from that perspective?