Given the rumors of the upcoming AppleTV set top including TWC live content, the conspiracy theorist in me wonders if TWC dangled the threat of an Apple deal to drive the price up for Comcast. After all, the cable industry as a whole probably fears Apple more than any other potential competitor and Comcast might see $44 billion as a small price to pay to prevent Apple from getting a foothold in the live content distribution business. - Kevin (aka ThreadKilla)