Cable industry game theory

• Charter Communications (NASDAQ:CHTR) could threaten to make a raised bid for Time Warner Cable (TWC) in order to gain negotiating leverage with Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA) over the subscribers it needs to divest, according to analysts.
• The game theory for the company is tricky with it needing to be careful to not cross a line that pushes Comcast away from the table over the subs.
• John Malone, the power behind Charter investor Liberty Media (LMCA), wants to see the cable company become a "horizontal acquisition machine" as it buys up assets piecemeal.