Time Warner walks on The Weather Channel

Depending on who is doing the measuring, The Weather Channel is one of the most widely watched 24-hour cable networks. Weather.com is among the top 15 or 20 most visited websites in the U.S. Since there are very few media properties of this size on the block, they are especially valuable.

Landmark, the owner of The Weather Channel, has put it on the block. It wanted $5 billion. The rumors are that it will get $3.5 billion on a good day. The last two companies kicking the tires were Time Warner (NYSE: TWX) and NBC Universal. TWX has apparently dropped out.

Although the media conglomerate has over $9 billion in money coming in as it finishes its spin-off of Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC), management cannot afford to be viewed as overanxious. Paying too much for a large asset would not make the new era of shareholder value under recently appointed CEO Jeff Bewkes look like it is off to a terribly good start.

According to The Wall Street Journal (subscription required), "Time Warner withdrew after Landmark told the media company it needed more time to make a decision." That probably means the seller is holding out for more cash.

For Time Warner, it is a shame. Its cable networks, CNN and Turner, do particularly well. Putting The Weather Channel with them would have built that business. Online, TWX has big properties like AOL and CNN.com, making Weather.com a good marriage.

It all made sense, except the price.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.