Tara Lachapelle, Columnist

Comcast’s Roberts, CEO for Life, Doesn’t Have to Explain

He has his reasons for going after Fox, whether or not shareholders like it.

Your move, Mr. Roberts

Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg

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As we await Comcast Corp.’s impending counterbid for 21st Century Fox Inc.’s assets, some of us are still scratching our heads. Comcast had a good thing going—so why rattle shareholders, take on a bunch of debt and embark on a long and uncertain regulatory fight for a deal that, by Comcast’s own admission, it doesn’t need?

The answer may just be because Brian Roberts wants to. On Tuesday, a judge will rule on whether to allow AT&T Inc. to proceed with its takeover of Time Warner Inc., and that may give Roberts the green light to bid for Fox.