DOJ and AT&T Clash Over Impact on Consumers of a Time Warner Deal

AT&T would have too much market power if it gets control of Time Warner’s programming, the Justice Department said; AT&T said that’s preposterous

WASHINGTON—The Justice Department and AT&T Inc. traded legal jabs Thursday as a federal judge opened proceedings on whether the telecom giant’s planned purchase of Time Warner Inc. violates antitrust laws.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon said little while the government and the companies spent about 90 minutes of opening arguments attacking the opposing side’s legal position.

The...