No Malone, But DirecTV Talk Surfaces at Liberty Meet

[Gregg Lengling]

Liberty President Dob Bennett, after overseeing a shareholder's meeting Tuesday at the Inverness Hotel in suburban Denver, did reiterate his and the company's desire to possibly acquire - with or without News Corp. - DirecTV.

Dr. John Malone, absent to attend the imminent birth of a new grandchild, usually presides over an interesting, rambling look at the media world. Without Malone, the only questions at the informal post-formal Q&A came from shareholder (806) and part-time industry pundit Tom Kerver. Tom asked why the meeting was being held so long after the close of the year (50 or so weeks) and was told, more or less, because it could be.

The more interesting question Tom raised was about the conflicts growing (including lawsuits) between Comcast and Liberty. Dob's answer was the expected ("complex and close relationships") making the point that, in this media world, many companies are both partners and competitors at the same time. More to the point, as echoed by other Liberty executives.