Apple (AAPL) could grab up to 20 million video subscribers with its own service by 2020, but cable TV companies would weather the storm owing to their dominance in broadband and their growth in the business market, says Deutsche Bank, which initiated coverage of cable stocks. Analyst Bryan Kraft gave buy ratings to Charter Communications (CHTR), Time Warner Cable (TWC) and Liberty Broadband (LBRDA), while putting holds on Comcast and Cablevision
French telecom firm Altice could buy Verizon Communications’ (VZ) local, residential wireline business, including its FiOS TV and Internet business, speculates Citigroup in a research report. Altice recently acquired a 70% stake in Suddenlink Communications, the No. 7 U.S. cable TV firm, for $7.9 billion. Altice has touted plans to expand further in the U.S. and reportedly approached Time Warner Cable (TWC) about a deal. But Charter Communications
Comcast (CMCSA) has competition within the cable TV industry, thanks to Charter Communications’ pending acquisitions of Time Warner Cable (TWC) and Bright House Networks, and their rivalry could play a part in what set-top box, broadband, wireless and other technologies will be offered consumers. On Tuesday, Charter (CHTR) announced it had agreed to buy Time Warner Cable for $56 billion. Comcast pulled the plug on its proposed merger with TWC in