THE WAITING IS THE HARDEST PART FOR AOLTW MERGER

The European Commission announced Thursday (9/28) it has still not decided when it will rule on the proposed merger between America Online and Time Warner and the joint venture between Warner Music Group with EMI.

While the commission actually has until Oct. 24 to make its decision on the AOL-Time Warner merger and until Oct. 18 to rule on Warner-EMI, some had expected both decisions to be handed down by Oct. 4.

Said one commission official: "I doubt the decisions will be next week. And it's still not certain the two rulings will be made together."

On Wednesday (9/27), a group of European Union competition experts reviewed the commission's draft proposals. The final decision will be taken by the EU's 20-member executive branch on a recommendation from EU Competition Commissioner Mario Monti, whose staff reportedly drafted decisions to block both deals, before the companies offered a series of anti-competition concessions.

After mulling the Advisory Committee's advice, the EC must determine whether the concessions will ease its concerns.

Last week, the FCC was reported to be recommending AOL-Time Warner approval, provided the companies would allow open access to their cable network to rival Internet services providers.