Deadline: “There’d be a ton of reasons” why Charter Communications “would likely pursue” the No. 2 cable operator if federal officials nix Comcast’s $45 billion stock deal to buy Time Warner Cable, Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei said. He should know: Liberty, which is controlled by chairman John Malone, is Charter’s dominant shareholder. The cable company tried to buy Time Warner Cable last year, before it was outbid by Comcast. Charter is in a better position to act now, according to Maffei. It can more easily afford a deal.