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Comcast To Buy Time Warner Cable; Northeast Gets Pummeled by Winter Storm; U.S. Takes Top Three Spots in Olympic Men's Freestyle Skiing; Castaway Asks Media for Privacy; National Corvette Museum Reopens

Aired February 13, 2014 - 15:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: A monster merger of Comcast and Time Warner Cable could impact one-in-three homes in America. This map shows just how much of the country uses the two biggest cable providers.

Comcast has agreed to buy Time Warner Cable for $45 billion. It may be good for the companies, but consumers, many say it's bad, bad, bad.

Here's just one example to show you. Benjamin Harrison tweets this, "In what way is this not a catastrophe for competition in an industry that is terrible for customers -- or consumers?"

A note, Time Warner Cable is not part of Time Warner, the parent company of CNN.

Our senior media correspondent is Brian Stelter. He is the host of "RELIABLE SOURCES" and he joins me now.

I wish you were the media critic, again, because then you could have reported about me reading the teleprompter (inaudible).

BRIAN STELTER, CNN HOST, "RELIABLE SOURCES": I was holding on to your tent so it wouldn't blow away just now, so yes.

LEMON: So it would not blow away.

How big of a deal is this? Do people like the guy -- is there a legitimate concern? Because people believe cable companies have a monopoly, just a few of them.

STELTER: I think it's good that consumers are fired up today, because they are curious about what's going on here.

Comcast is already the biggest cable company in the country. It has 23 million subscribers. Time Warner Cable is number two. It has 12 million.

So they are putting the two together, and that's going to create an even bigger cable company.

There good reasons to be concerned about that, but these companies, actually, they need to get bigger because they need more scale in order to negotiate against cable-channel owners, like Time Warner, which owns CNN, or like Disney, which owns ESPN. They says they need to get bigger, but they admitted today on a conference call this isn't going to cause prices to go down. It isn't going to create discounts.

Prices are going to keep going up for cable because these channels keep costing more and more.

LEMON: Yeah, but Timer Warner is not part of Time Warner Cable anymore. I think we spun them off, right?

STELTER: They have been separated for a few years now. People still confusion the two.

And Time Warner Cable has a bad reputation. It has gotten trashed in the press for good reasons in the last few months.

Comcast, say what you will about Comcast, they at least have a slightly better reputation, so they've got that going for them.

And in a market like New York City, which is Time Warner/Cabletown, I do -

(AUDIO BREAK)

STELTER: And it wasn't the best in the world.

LEMON: Customer service was not great.

STELTER: You know what? You look at the rankings for cable companies. All of them have miserable scores. Time Warner Cable happened to be the lowest of them all.

But as an industry, they have to get better, because consumers have more choices than ever. We have Netflix now. We have Verizon Wireless I think soon will probably start to sell television via your cell phone.

All of these new choices mean that Comcast and Time Warner Cable have to try harder.

LEMON: But you feel like you don't have any options. We are a cable company, and you feel like you don't have many options and you ending up saying, OK, well, if that's what I have to pay, and you kind of get used to paying all of that money every month.

STELTER: That's what they hope happens, right? You just automatically renew every month.

But cable companies like Time Warner Cable have been losing subscribers to DirecTV to Verizon FiOS, so they say they have to get bigger in order to survive.

A lot of people are skeptical of that, and that's why this is going to take six, eight, seven -- I am losing track of numbers out here in the cold.

It's going to take the rest of the year to focus on this in the government to see if it's going to get approved.

LEMON: Is it a done deal?

STELTER: Maybe not for nine months. That's the right number.

But I do eventually think it will get approved, the same way Comcast's deal for NBC/Universal got approved three years ago.

LEMON: Yeah, so you're doing -- well, triple -- you were the media reporter for the "New York Times." Now you are the host of "RELIABLE SOURCES."

You were out in the last snowstorm -

STELTER: I'm a big weather geek. I love it out -

LEMON: You were out in the snowstorm reporting and then you are also a nice tent holder in the wind, so, Brian Stelter --

STELTER: Trying to be a jack of all trades. I'm going to go jump back over these puddles, back inside.

LEMON: Isn't it crazy?

STELTER: It's Olympic puddle-jumping.

LEMON: There should be a competition, right? I give most people a 10, or a gold medal, at least, for doing that.

Thank you, Brian Stelter. We appreciate it.

Coming up here, we're going talk more about the winter storm that really won't quiet.

The northeastern United States is getting pummeled by this winter weather and people in the South without power, three-quarters of a million customers still in the dark.

We're live in North Carolina right after this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: So, this massive ice storm really that swallowed up the South has really transformed into a monster of a storm and it's moving up to the Northeast now to where we are in New York City, Washington, D.C., Boston, up to this area, more than a foot of snow dropping across the region.

At -- to the south, though, the airports, including Reagan National trying to clear runways so grounded planes can resume their flights and their schedules.

We want to go now to CNN's Maria Santana. She is in White Plains, where residents are trying to dig out and supplies are really low.

Tell us about the conditions there, Maria. MARIA SANTANA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Don.

Well, that's right. Supplies are really low. We have seen people here taking advantage of this lull that we are seeing. It is a light rain right now, and they have come out to shovel.

But we did call some hardware stores earlier today, and they have run out of shovels and salt. This is a problem all over the area.

I live in northern New Jersey, and I tell you, for this storm, we had to order salt on the Internet and have it delivered to the house, because we were driving around and cooped find it anywhere.

Now, here in White Plains, about a foot of snow has already fallen. We spoke to the sanitation commissioner just a little while ago. He says that now that it's raining, this is actually a welcome change because they can actually go through with the plows and actually clear the snow and see some pavement.

Earlier on when it was falling at a rate of about two-to-three-inches- per-hour, they could not get the snow off the streets fast enough. So this is actually a nice little -- but this will change to snow, once again.

So, we're going to get more snow on top of the foot of snow that has already fallen here.

But I must tell you, Don, people here are in good spirits despite being walloped by about four storms in the last week. They have been so nice. They have been coming up to us, to the crew, just all day, offering us coffee, offering us food.

And just about 10 minutes ago, this lady walked over here and gave us some nice, fresh-out-of-the-oven, warm, chewy, chocolate-chip cookies, so we want to thank her for that, because this makes our job so much better.

How are people treating you in New York City?

LEMON: Yeah, don't rub it in, because I just asked one of the food- truck people if I could have a cup, and they said absolutely not.

I had to pay a dollar for a cup because I wanted to show this. They said no, so don't rub it in.

Thank you very much, Maria. Appreciate it.

SANTANA: We definitely got lucky then. Thank you.

LEMON: Yeah, you did. You did.

I want to go to Baltimore now to CNN's Lisa Desjardins. She is at an east Baltimore truck yard. Lisa, what are you seeing?

LISA DESJARDINS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Actually, we are out on the roads with one of the snowplows here, Don. We're trying to bring you live pictures as we're out plowing the roads. We had a tough time with our signal, so we pulled over for a little bit.

We have a foot of snow in Baltimore right now, a foot and a half in some place, and what's happening to it right now, Don, it's melting.

But in the next couple of hours, things are going to get back to freezing.

I'm going to step back on top of this truck that's going to have a critical role, because this salt, it's full of 10 tons, 10 tons of salt.

They're going to be spreading that on the roads, and I want to introduce to you two of the hardest working men in the snow business. This is my friend, Eric Duvall (ph). He's the driver. And this, riding shotgun, is Reggie Clowney (ph), two Baltimore natives.

They have been working in 12-hour shifts, 12-to-midnight. They came in last night when the snow started.

And let me start with you, Eric (ph). Talk about this particular snow right here, heavy, wet. What's it been like?

ERIC DUVALL (PH), SNOWPLOW DRIVER: It's been a little heavy, but right now it's kind smooth with the rain. It kind of helped us out last night.

But it's not as tough, you know. We've had tougher jobs than this, you know, The blizzard, you know, in 2010 was tougher.

But, you know, it's not as bad as we thought it might be.

DESJARDINS: Are you worried about more snow or ice? You feel like the roads are good right now?

DUVALL (PH): Right now they are good. I don't know if they are talking about more, but hopefully it won't get worse. We will do the best we can do to clear the streets.

DESJARDINS: They are talking about more, I have to tell you, my friend.

Don, here's what we are going do. This guy has to get on the road as you can see.

The roads are pretty good. You can see blacktop all around Baltimore, but the sides is what they are trying to clear out now.

So, we're actually going to get going and try to plow. Hopefully, we can keep our signal as we pull away. But if you lose us, that's why.

So, Don, this is what's going on in Baltimore right now.

LEMON: All right, Lisa Desjardins, the snow plow and Maria Santana getting cookies from neighbors out in White Plains, thank you very much, both of you, for those reports.

Power companies from Louisiana to Connecticut are reporting almost three-quarters a million customers don't have electricity because of this storm.

The biggest share of those without power, North Carolina. That's also where we find major traffic jams, including this one in Raleigh. It spawned this apocalyptic scene that has become an iconic image of this winter storm.

David Mattingly is at Charlotte -- in Charlotte, North Carolina. David, what's the latest there?

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Don, the sun came out. Normally that is not a big deal, but just a few hours ago, we were standing in the middle of a pretty steady snow shower, that snow steadily moving to the north and out of the Tar Heel State.

And you can bet everyone here will be relieved to see that go away.

And now the road crews are out here and clearing pavement and there seems to be turning a corner right now.

But that traffic jam you were talking about in Raleigh last night, the governor was talking about that today.

He said they made an early decision to make sure the National Guard was available, so that they could go out and rescue people to make sure no one was stranded when the cars were stuck on the expressway.

That jam alleviated itself late last night. We didn't see a repeat today. In fact, the roads were fairly light, most people paying attention to authorities everywhere who were saying, Don't go out.

So people taking this snow day to stay at home and hopefully watch for a thaw.

Don?

LEMON: All right, David Mattingly. Thank you very much, David.

Coming up here on CNN, we are going Sochi where Team U.S. is blowing the doors off the competition in a brand-new event.

Americans took the gold, the silver, and the bronze. We're going to hear from the proud winner.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: So Jake Tapper's coming up in just a few minutes on CNN, and he's going to be live in Washington.

Jake, I hear you're outside. I will trade you whatever you have for this black/gray slushy mess that people are trying to get across here. It's really crazy here. JAKE TAPPER, CNN CHIEF WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Don, I'm being sleeted upon right now. These are like tiny little nails coming down from the heavens. It's one of the Ten Plagues, I believe. I need to go back and check out my "Exodus."

LEMON: I understand, though, that people can sit in their warm, cozy home and watch an interview with you and the vice president?

TAPPER: It's not an interview with the vice president, but we will be talking about the vice president because he does seem to be everywhere these days.

He's just announced that he's going to be Seth Meyers first guest when his late show debuts. There have been 128 requests for him on the campaign trail.

It might be that all of this could be good for him if he chooses to run for another office some day.

We're going to be talking about the vice president and ObamaCare in our political panel.

Plus, we'll cover the wonderful wintry weather that makes us both smile.

LEMON: Well, if he can do an interview with Seth Meyers, he can do one with Jake Tapper, so, Mr. Vice President, there you go.

Jake, listen, stay warm. Yeah. There you go.

Listen, stay warm. I'm sorry you're getting sleeted upon. I'm just getting a little -- it's just wet, like cold rain. That's all it is.

Thank you, Jake. We'll see you at the top of the hour in just a few minutes.

TAPPER: The frost is coming in five minutes. See you next, Don. See you soon.

LEMON: See you soon. 4:00 p.m., Jake Tapper will be right here in about 11 minutes.

Coming up, the castaway who says he was on the boat at sea for more than a year. He's speaking out. Hear from him, coming up.

And next, we're going to Sochi where Team USA is blowing the door off the competition at a brand-new event. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: You know what that music means, time for an Olympic update. The way things went in Sochi, they should have added a slope-style skiing competition long ago.

America's men finished one, two and three. They swept the podium in the first such event ever held at the Winter Olympics. Rachel Nichols is there.

RACHEL NICHOLS, CNN SPORTS: Don, this is how rare it is to sweep the podium at an event.

In the entire history of the Winter Olympics, the U.S. has only done it three times, in the 1950s, in 2002, and now.

This is one of the extreme-style sports that America has been so dominant at in these games.

Afterwards, the athletes could not be more happy to be reshaping what Olympians should look, talk and ski like.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NICHOLAS GOEPPER, BRONZE MEDAL MEN'S FREESTYLE SKIING: I think today was one of the most insane competitions that we've ever had, and I'm really excited to see the aftermath of all of this awesomeness.

GUS KENWORTHY, SILVER MEDAL MEN'S FREESTYLE SKIIING: I didn't get any time to new events added. You really want to showcase it as best possible, and I think with the U.S. just being such a powerhouse, in general, I think it's awesome that we were able to come out the way we did.

JOSS CHRISTENSEN, GOLD MEDAL MEN'S FREESTYLE SKIING: It's definitely the best day of my life so far. Probably will be the best day of my life, and I'm more than happy to share it with my good friends and fellow Americans.

NICHOLS: The day was even more meaningful for gold-medalist Joss Christensen because of what it would have meant to his father, J.D., who died six months ago.

CHRISTENSEN: It was just big for me. He really wanted me to make it here, and he supported me this whole way, so I'm glad it worked out. I hope he's proud.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NICHOLS: Joss said it meant a lot to his dad that he tried to make the Olympic team, so he brought a picture of his father here to Sochi.

He had it with him in the opening ceremony, so his dad could march, too. And then he also stuffed it in his pants pockets for his run today.

Don, his dad ways right there with him with every jump and twist for that gold-medal performance.

LEMON: All right. Rachel Nichols, thank you very much. Appreciate that.

Coming up, the Corvette museum that lost eight cars to a sinkhole, back open for business today. That story is next. Also, the castaway who says he was on a boat at sea for more than a year, speaking out, hear from him coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: The fisherman who says he survived for more than a year stranded at sea spoke for the first time from his home in El Salvador.

But Jose Salvador Alvarenga didn't say a lot, asking for privacy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSE SALVADOR ALVARENGA, CASTAWAY (via translator): What I want is to be with my family at peace, spending time with them. No more questions. No more pictures. No more.

I want to be alone with my family. Give me time to talk after I recover, because right now I'm not giving explanations to be, and what I ask is that, to be left alone.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: A doctor says Alvarenga is anemic and not psychologically ready for all the public exposure he's receiving.

Alvarenga turned up January 30th in the Marshall Islands after he says he set out on what was to be a one-day fishing trip in late 2012 and then ended up as almost a year lost at sea.

The National Corvette Museum reopened today, one day after a sinkhole open up inside and swallowed a classic Corvette.

The moment the earth collapsed beneath the cars was captured on surveillance video. The museum estimates damage in the millions of dollars.

I'm Don Lemon. Thanks for watching. Go in now and get warm.

Jake Tapper gets cold now in "THE LEAD."