AOL Time Warner leaders: 'A lot of high fives'

Here are excerpts from an interview:

QUESTION: It took more than a year to close the deal, which was approved by the Federal Communications Commission late last week. Can you set the scene Thursday night for us?

Levin: I was in my office in New York, and we received word (of the approval) from the Federal Communications Commission. We got the official order itself. And we deployed our resources. We filed in Delaware and were able to close the transaction slightly before 9 p.m. We were mobilized, so we started to change the nameplate on the building.

Q: But there was no ceremony or champagne?

Levin: No. What you’re basically doing is filing a certificate in the state of incorporation. In that sense, it’s kind of anticlimactic. But for those of us around, and through e-mail, there were a lot of high fives.

Case: I was home putting my kids to bed. We expected to get word from the FCC earlier, so we had a whole schedule of television interviews lined up. Then it got delayed, delayed and delayed. So we waited to do them in the morning.

Q: Are you satisfied that the final conditions from the FCC were fair?

Levin: There’ve been no surprises here. We don’t see anything that will hamper conduct of our business.

Case: We’re obviously pleased that the deal finally got approved. It’s taken a year. That’s a long time in this market and with changing technologies.

We’re pleased that the instant-messaging conditions do not affect our existing instant-messaging service. It’s not exactly clear to us yet what impact it might have on the future.

But we recognize it was a complicated issue, and instant messaging will be an increasingly important part of our society. So we understand why there was concern.

Q: Should the requirements to open your cable lines to outside high-speed Internet service providers (ISPs) be extended to all cable operators?

Levin: It’s not a question of the application of rules. One thing that’s misperceived is (that) I’m a real advocate of multiple ISPs, and I was even before we entered into our agreement. The consumer needs the choice. We have the technical capability; it needs to be developed.

Q: Other cable operators may see it differently.

Levin: I’m many things, but I’m also a traditional cable operator. I’m not articulating anything that’s different from what any other cable operator would say.

Case: I do think that people in the cable industry are going to embrace this model. It’s better, if you make a significant investment to build out your broadband infrastructure, to get a lot of people selling it instead of just you selling it. I’ve had a number of conversations · with key members of Congress, and there’s a commitment on their part to make sure that this is really open across the board.

I think (regulations) won’t be necessary, though, because I expect other cable companies to embrace the model of multiple ISPs.

Q: Some analysts say that, with open access, it’s in your long-term interest to spin off cable. Can you rule that out?

Levin: Yes. I’ll categorically rule that out. We met with a lot of investors and analysts, and there’s little question that the concept of providing multiple services in one of the highest margin areas of cable is going to enhance value.

Q: Some media companies have cut Internet investments. Are you swimming against the tide?

Levin: Not at all. It’s quite illustrative. If Time Warner had not become AOL Time Warner, we’d probably be spending money inefficiently and not succeeding the way some of these other companies are. What we’re talking about now is creating a new company that melds and blends the Internet capability as developed by AOL, which is totally unique. This is a company that is subscription-based, so it’s not like we have a digital division that’s somewhere out here and we don’t know how to plow that as a new business.

Q: You also make a lot from ads, and that business appears to be softening. Can you still deliver on your ambitious financial goals for the year?

Levin: In the budget for AOL Time Warner, while subscriptions are the largest single source of revenue, what we’re calling advertising and e-commerce is the fastest-growing part. And that’s driven in part by AOL, which is the crown jewel here because it (doesn’t depend on) traditional measured media advertising.

What AOL has done is address the direct marketing expenditures and needs of individual companies. That’s outside the area that has been affected, television advertising. So I’m very comfortable with the street guidance we’ve given.

Q: There’s a lot of fear at the company now about cutbacks.

Levin: That’s not what this is about. This is all about enhanced opportunities, particularly revenue opportunities. With respect to some of the speculation, one area I’d identify relates to the digital activities of the former Time Warner. Those expenditures and positions that haven’t been filled yet can be substantially changed because of AOL’s infrastructure and network.

Case: We have 85,000 employees. We’ll have more than that a year from now because we’ll be pursuing a variety of new initiatives. In the short run, we’ll look for ways to be as efficient as possible. But the focus is not on cutting costs. It’s on growing revenues.

Q: What is the future for CNNfn, which faces tough competition from CNBC?

Levin: You want a categorical statement? CNNfn fits neatly, and now even more so, into the broad range of financial services and information leading to transactions that we now have in the cable network, on the AOL service, at Money and Fortune. And I think you can look forward to announcements about how we’re going to enhance CNNfn.

Case: It’s an important franchise, obviously a hot category. And there’s an opportunity to expand cable distribution for CNNfn and have a dramatically expanded Internet presence. It’s an example of the kind of opportunity the new company can capitalize on.

Q: Ted Turner has been notably absent from your recent presentations. He’s been busy trying to buy a stake in Russian television and launching a foundation to fight nuclear holocaust. How active will he be at the company?

Levin: I’m very proud of what Ted has been doing. The new foundation he established with (former) Sen. Sam Nunn is really important. It’s also a symbol for all of us about delivering on your own social commitment. · We’ve said that Ted is going to be not only vice chairman but senior adviser because his wisdom and sparkle are very important. We’re going to go around and do roadshows within the company. And the people doing it will be Steve and myself, (co-chief operating officers) Dick Parsons and Bob Pittman, and Ted.

[back to top]