Viacom/CBS Could Rival Disney, AT&T, Netflix as Content Producers, Says Analyst

If or when there's a Viacom/CBS deal, the combined company would be the second-largest player in U.S. TV advertising, wrote MoffettNathanson analyst Michael Nathanson in a note to investors Friday. Churn at Showtime and CBS All Access could be reduced and usage increased with the addition of Paramount's film library and Nickelodeon content, he said. The CBS/Paramount production asset would become a serious competitor to Disney, Comcast, AT&T and Netflix, he said. The combined company could reap faster affiliate fee growth with Viacom benefiting "from the big stick of the CBS Broadcast Network," he said.