Late last week, word surfaced that AT&T and Time Warner Inc. had held informal talks about a possible merger. Two days later, AT&T announced it had reached an agreement to acquire the company for a colossal $85.4 billion.

Debates as to whether the acquisition will get the nod from regulators is likely to rage on for the foreseeable future. In the meantime, have a look at this fascinating infographic from The Wall Street Journal that charts the many splits, acquisitions, mergers and name changes that have shaped the two companies over the past 30+ years.

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