Merrill Lynch's Cohen Comments on Media Consolidation

According to The New York Times Deal Book blog, citing a Reuters article, Merrill Lynch analyst Jessica Reif Cohen sees further consolidation in the media sector. Link

Cohen said Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA) and Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWX) will continue to dominate in the cable market.

Cohen said Verizon (NYSE: VZ) or AT&T (NYSE: T) could buy satellite-TV providers EchoStar (Nasdaq: DISH) or DirectTV (NYSE: DTV), or the two could merge.

Cohen said DreamWorks Animation (NYSE: DWA) is a possible takeover target.

Cohen sees Viacom (NYSE: VIA) and CBS (NYSE: CBS), which split in January, as possible acquirers. She doesn't think either will be taken private as has been rumored.