How clustering might change the business. (consolidation trend in the cable television industry may affect cable television advertising)

Cable's sweeping consolidation plans may change some of the rules for the ad-sales business, but changes will come gradually, and not overnight, executives said. In late November, Tele-Communications Inc. executives had said that TCI's partnerships or swaps would eventually involve 18 MSOs reaching 6 million subscribers; eight of those deals were already announced by then, with four other done deals not yet announced and six others in the works.

These various ownership concentrations should be finalized over the next 12 to 24 months, said Jerry Machovina, senior vice president ...

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