Comcast expect delay in Time Warner Canle approval

Comcast and Time Warner Cable in February 2014 announced a $45.2 billion merger that would combine the two largest cable companies in the U.S.

Comcast said March 25 that it now expects regulatory approval for its deal to acquire Time Warner Cable to occur "in the middle" of 2015, owing to the FCC's recent decision to pause its informal "shot clock" pending the review of a court case. As recently as February, Comcast had said it expected approval by "early 2015."

The FCC on March 13 paused its informal "shot clock" reviewing the proposed merger because it's waiting for a court decision related to the companies' programming contracts. The case concerns the disclosure of certain private information, including how much content providers pay Comcast, to the FCC's "outside counsel and experts."

The proposed merger has come under severe criticism from those who say it would create a monopoly that will ultimately harm consumers. Comcast has repeatedly defended the merger, saying it will not reduce competition because the two companies don't serve the same areas.

Several companies, including Discovery Communications, Dish Network and Netflix, have also publicly opposed the proposed merger, with Dish Network also claiming a combined Comcast-TWC could use its large size to win better terms. Netflix has focused on potential harm in broadband competition.