What company was formed when AOL merged with Time Warner in 2001?

The 2001 merger of AOL and Time Warner formed AOL Time Warner.

AOL and Time Warner announced the transaction in January 2000, and it was completed on January 11, 2001. The combined company brought together America Online’s internet-access and digital-media operations with Time Warner’s film, television, publishing and cable assets.

At the time, the deal was promoted as a transformational combination of old and new media. AOL was then a leading internet service provider, while Time Warner owned brands and businesses including Warner Bros., HBO, CNN and major magazines.

The merger struggled after the dot-com crash and a sharp decline in AOL’s advertising and subscription businesses. In 2003, the company dropped “AOL” from its corporate name and became Time Warner. Time Warner later separated its cable business and was acquired by AT&T in 2018.