A problem that seems to be frustrating "big media" opponents is, as the article says: "the concentration of ownership reduces media voices, restricts diversity and thus weakens democracy"; "the marriage of media content with media distribution further increases the power of media barons over viewers, readers and listeners-.
These arguments might not be justified even because nowadays digitisation seems to be doing that already, cable companies carrying data and phone calls, telephone carriers transporting television, films and music. So basically the public's available choices are getting even bigger, making the problems of "big media" opponents seem unjustified.
Another issue is whether the merger will be good for shareholders or not. Comcast might be able to raise Disney share's value up, but only in the short run. On the other hand, in the long run, if other companies merge and digitisation keeps on "growing" it's as the article says: "worth questioning the industry's current conventional wisdom that combining content and distribution in one company makes sense".
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Opinion.
According to economic theory this merger should be a vertical one, though it's a bit of an odd thing to be sure that it is totally like that. .
A Vertical merger occurs when one firm or company merges with either a firm from which it purchases its output or a firm to which it sells its output. In this case it should be seen as a company which merges with a firm from which it purchases its output, because Comcast purchases some of Disney's shows, movies, etc so that it can transmit them in its cable-TV. .
Although I think the merger of Disney and Comcast would be a very good example of a Vertical merger, I don't believe it's only a Vertical Merger because I don't think Comcast is only trying to acquire Disney so that it won't need to purchase the shows, movies, etc. .
I think this merger should be seen as a Vertical/ Conglomerate one, because Disney isn't a usual company- adding to the movies, shows and products that Disney has, Disney is also connected to the Theme Park's business; it's all entertainment but Comcast can't "transmit" theme parks, Comcast doesn't purchase any theme parks from Disney.
