AT&T announcesto buy Time Warner for nearly $86bn

BBC reports that the US telecoms giant AT&T has announced that it will buy entertainment group Time Warner for nearly $86bn (£70bn).

The deal was agreed at a meeting of the two boards on Saturday but will still need to be approved by regulators.

Correspondents say it is the biggest deal in the world this year.

It reflects the desire of the telecoms company to acquire content to stream over its high-speed network and attract more online viewers.

If the deal is approved by regulators, AT&T would gain control of CNN and the HBO TV network, in addition to the Warner Bros film studio and other prized media assets.