TIME WARNER INC
424B2, 1996-01-16
PERIODICALS: PUBLISHING OR PUBLISHING & PRINTING
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<PAGE>
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(TO PROSPECTUS DATED JUNE 7, 1995)

                                  $715,923,000
                                TIME WARNER INC.
                     $165,923,000 7.48% DEBENTURES DUE 2008
                     $150,000,000 8.05% DEBENTURES DUE 2016
                     $400,000,000 6.85% DEBENTURES DUE 2026
                            ------------------------
                    Interest payable January 15 and July 15
                            ------------------------
THE 7.48% DEBENTURES DUE 2008 (THE 'DEBENTURES DUE 2008') WILL MATURE ON JANUARY
15,  2008, AND WILL NOT  BE REDEEMABLE PRIOR TO  MATURITY. THE 8.05% DEBENTURES
 DUE 2016 (THE 'DEBENTURES  DUE 2016') WILL MATURE  ON JANUARY 15, 2016,  AND
   WILL  NOT BE REDEEMABLE  PRIOR TO MATURITY. THE  6.85% DEBENTURES DUE 2026
   (THE 'DEBENTURES DUE 2026') WILL MATURE ON JANUARY 15, 2026, WILL NOT  BE
    REDEEMABLE  AT THE OPTION OF  THE COMPANY PRIOR TO  MATURITY AND WILL BE
    REDEEMABLE AT THE OPTION OF THE HOLDERS THEREOF ON JANUARY 15, 2003  AT
     100%   OF  THEIR   PRINCIPAL  AMOUNT   PLUS  ACCRUED   INTEREST.  SEE
      'DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBENTURES -- TERMS OF THE DEBENTURES DUE 2026'.
      THE DEBENTURES DUE 2008, THE DEBENTURES DUE 2016 AND THE DEBENTURES
       DUE 2026 (COLLECTIVELY THE 'DEBENTURES')  WILL NOT BE SUBJECT  TO
        ANY   SINKING  FUND.  THE  DEBENTURES  WILL  BE  REPRESENTED  BY
        BOOK-ENTRY SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE  DEPOSITORY
         TRUST  COMPANY  ('DTC')  OR  ITS  NOMINEE.  INTERESTS  IN SUCH
         BOOK-ENTRY SECURITIES WILL BE SHOWN ON, AND TRANSFER  THEREOF
          WILL BE EFFECTED ONLY THROUGH, RECORDS MAINTAINED BY DTC AND
           ITS  PARTICIPANTS. EXCEPT AS  DESCRIBED HEREIN, DEBENTURES
           IN DEFINITIVE FORM WILL NOT BE ISSUED. SETTLEMENT FOR THE
            DEBENTURES WILL BE MADE IN IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE  FUNDS.
            SO LONG AS THE  DEBENTURES ARE REGISTERED IN THE NAME
              OF DTC OR ITS NOMINEE,  THE DEBENTURES WILL TRADE
                IN  DTC'S SAME-DAY   FUNDS  SETTLEMENT  SYSTEM
                   AND SECONDARY MARKET TRADING ACTIVITY IN
                     THE DEBENTURES  WILL THEREFORE SETTLE
                       IN IMMEDIATELY  AVAILABLE FUNDS.
                         SEE  'DESCRIPTION  OF  THE
                              DEBENTURES' HEREIN.
                            ------------------------
THESE  SECURITIES HAVE  NOT BEEN APPROVED  OR DISAPPROVED BY  THE SECURITIES AND
   EXCHANGE COMMISSION  OR  ANY  STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION  NOR  HAS  THE
     SECURITIES  AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION
       PASSED  UPON  THE   ACCURACY  OR  ADEQUACY   OF  THIS   PROSPECTUS
         SUPPLEMENT   OR  THE  PROSPECTUS  TO  WHICH  IT  RELATES.  ANY
           REPRESENTATION TO  THE  CONTRARY IS  A  CRIMINAL  OFFENSE.

                            ------------------------
 
             DEBENTURES DUE 2008 -- PRICE 100% AND ACCRUED INTEREST
             DEBENTURES DUE 2016 -- PRICE 100% AND ACCRUED INTEREST
             DEBENTURES DUE 2026 -- PRICE 100% AND ACCRUED INTEREST

                            ------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              UNDERWRITING
                                                               PRICE TO      DISCOUNTS AND      PROCEEDS TO
                                                               PUBLIC(1)     COMMISSIONS(2)    COMPANY(1)(3)
                                                             -------------   --------------    -------------
<S>                                                          <C>             <C>               <C>
Per Debenture Due 2008....................................     100.000%          .675%            99.325%
     Total................................................   $165,923,000      $1,119,980      $164,803,020
Per Debenture Due 2016....................................     100.000%          .875%            99.125%
     Total................................................   $150,000,000      $1,312,500      $148,687,500
Per Debenture Due 2026....................................     100.000%          .625%            99.375%
     Total................................................   $400,000,000      $2,500,000      $397,500,000
</TABLE>
 
- ------------
     (1) Plus accrued interest from January 15, 1996.
     (2) The  Company has agreed  to indemnify the  Underwriters against certain
         liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as
         amended.
     (3) Before deducting estimated expenses of $560,000 payable by the Company.
                            ------------------------
     The Debentures are offered, subject to prior sale, when, as and if accepted
by the several Underwriters and subject to approval of certain legal matters  by
Shearman  & Sterling, counsel for the Underwriters. It is expected that delivery
of the  Debentures will  be  made on  or about  January  17, 1996,  through  the
book-entry  facilities of The Depository Trust Company, against payment therefor
in immediately available funds.
                            ------------------------
MORGAN STANLEY & CO.
   INCORPORATED
                   BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC.
                                       LEHMAN BROTHERS
                                              J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.
                                                            SALOMON BROTHERS INC
January 11, 1996



<PAGE>
<PAGE>
     IN  CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVER-ALLOT OR EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS WHICH  STABILIZE OR  MAINTAIN THE  MARKET PRICE  OF THE  DEBENTURES
OFFERED  HEREBY AT A LEVEL ABOVE THAT  WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL IN THE OPEN
MARKET. SUCH STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.
 
     NO PERSON IS AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR BY THE UNDERWRITERS OR ANY DEALER
TO GIVE  ANY  INFORMATION  OR  TO MAKE  ANY  REPRESENTATIONS  OTHER  THAN  THOSE
CONTAINED  OR INCORPORATED  BY REFERENCE  IN THIS  PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT  OR THE
ACCOMPANYING  PROSPECTUS   AND,  IF   GIVEN  OR   MADE,  SUCH   INFORMATION   OR
REPRESENTATIONS  MUST NOT BE  RELIED UPON AS HAVING  BEEN SO AUTHORIZED. NEITHER
THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT NOR THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS CONSTITUTES AN  OFFER
TO  SELL OR THE  SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER  TO BUY ANY  SECURITIES OTHER THAN THE
SECURITIES DESCRIBED IN THIS  PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR AN  OFFER TO SELL OR  THE
SOLICITATION  OF AN  OFFER TO  BUY SUCH  SECURITIES IN  ANY JURISDICTION  TO ANY
PERSON TO WHOM  IT IS  UNLAWFUL TO  MAKE SUCH  OFFER IN  SUCH JURISDICTION.  THE
DELIVERY  OF THIS  PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR  THE ACCOMPANYING  PROSPECTUS OR ANY
SALE MADE HEREUNDER  DOES NOT  IMPLY THAT  THE INFORMATION  CONTAINED HEREIN  OR
THEREIN  IS  CORRECT  AS  OF ANY  TIME  SUBSEQUENT  TO THE  DATE  ON  WHICH SUCH
INFORMATION IS GIVEN.
 
                            ------------------------
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                              PAGE
                                                                                                              ----
<S>                                                                                                           <C>
                                              PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
The Company................................................................................................    S-3
 
Recent Developments........................................................................................    S-4
 
Use of Proceeds............................................................................................    S-6
 
Consolidated Capitalization................................................................................    S-7
 
Selected Historical and Pro Forma Financial Information....................................................    S-9
 
Description of the Debentures..............................................................................   S-14
 
Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations....................................................   S-19
 
Underwriters...............................................................................................   S-20
 
Legal Opinions.............................................................................................   S-20
 
                                                    PROSPECTUS
 
Available Information......................................................................................      2
 
Information Incorporated by Reference......................................................................      2
 
Time Warner Inc. ..........................................................................................      3
 
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.........................................................................      4
 
Use of Proceeds............................................................................................      5
 
Description of the Debt Securities.........................................................................      5
 
Description of Common Stock Warrants.......................................................................      9
 
Description of Common Stock................................................................................      9
 
Global Securities..........................................................................................     11
 
Holding Company Structure..................................................................................     12
 
Plan of Distribution.......................................................................................     13
 
Legal Opinions.............................................................................................     13
 
Experts....................................................................................................     13
</TABLE>
 
                                      S-2



<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                                  THE COMPANY
 
     Time  Warner Inc.  (the 'Company') is  the largest  media and entertainment
company in the  world. Its  businesses are  conducted in  five principal  areas:
Publishing,  Music, Filmed Entertainment,  Programming-HBO and Cable. Publishing
consists principally of the publication and distribution of magazines and books;
Music consists principally of the production and distribution of recorded  music
and  the ownership and administration  of music copyrights; Filmed Entertainment
consists principally of the production  and distribution of motion pictures  and
television  programming, the distribution  of video cassettes  and the ownership
and operation  of  retail  stores  and  theme  parks;  Programming-HBO  consists
principally  of  the production  and distribution  of  pay television  and cable
programming; and Cable consists principally of the operation of cable television
systems.
 
     The Company was incorporated in the State of Delaware in August 1983 and is
the successor to a New York  corporation that was originally organized in  1922.
The  Company  changed  its  name  from Time  Incorporated  to  Time  Warner Inc.
following its acquisition of 59.3% of the common stock of Warner  Communications
Inc.  ('WCI') in July 1989. WCI became  a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company
in January 1990 upon the completion of the merger of WCI and a subsidiary of the
Company.
 
     Time Warner Entertainment Company,  L.P. ('TWE') was  formed as a  Delaware
limited  partnership in 1992 to own and  operate substantially all of the Filmed
Entertainment, Programming-HBO and  Cable businesses owned  and operated by  the
Company  prior  to  such date.  The  Company  and certain  of  its  wholly owned
subsidiaries (the 'Time Warner General Partners') collectively own 74.49% of the
pro rata priority  capital and  residual equity interests  in TWE  and a  wholly
owned  subsidiary of U S  WEST Inc. ('U S WEST')  owns pro rata priority capital
and residual equity  interests in TWE  of 25.51%. In  addition, the Time  Warner
General  Partners own  priority capital interests  senior and junior  to the pro
rata priority capital interests. See 'Recent Developments'.
 
     TWE is the principal component of the Company's Entertainment Group,  which
is  not consolidated with the Company  for financial reporting purposes. Certain
cable systems acquired as  a result of the  Transactions referred to in  'Recent
Developments' are owned by consolidated subsidiaries of the Company. The balance
of  the Company's cable systems are owned  by TWE or the TWE-A/N Partnership (as
defined herein), in which TWE owns a two-thirds interest. Accordingly,  although
TWE  manages substantially all the  cable systems owned by  the Company, TWE and
the TWE-A/N Partnership, the results of operations of the cable systems owned by
the Company's  consolidated  subsidiaries  will be  included  in  the  Company's
consolidated results, while the results of operations of the cable systems owned
by  TWE and the TWE-A/N Partnership are  included in the consolidated results of
the Entertainment  Group.  See  'Selected Historical  and  Pro  Forma  Financial
Information'.
 
     The  Company  is a  holding  company and  its  assets consist  primarily of
investments in its consolidated and unconsolidated subsidiaries, including  TWE.
The  Company's ability to service its indebtedness, including the Debentures, is
dependent primarily upon  the earnings  of its  consolidated and  unconsolidated
subsidiaries,  including  TWE, and  the distribution  or  other payment  of such
earnings to the  Company. See  'Holding Company Structure'  in the  accompanying
Prospectus.
 
     As  used  in  this  Prospectus  Supplement,  unless  the  context otherwise
requires, the term the 'Company' refers to Time Warner Inc. and its consolidated
and unconsolidated subsidiaries and includes TWE.
 
     The Company's principal  executive offices  are located  at 75  Rockefeller
Plaza, New York, NY 10019, and its telephone number is (212) 484-8000.
 
                                      S-3
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                              RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
 
     As  summarized  below and  more fully  described  in the  Company's Current
Reports on Form 8-K  dated November 14,  1995, December 1,  1995 and January  4,
1996,  the  Company  has  recently  entered  into  or  consummated  a  number of
transactions. These transactions  will, among  other things, result  in (i)  the
acquisition of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. ('TBS'), (ii) the acquisition of
cable  systems serving approximately 2.2 million  subscribers and a 50% interest
in Paragon  Communications ('Paragon'),  which serves  972,000 subscribers  (the
other  50%  interest  in  Paragon  was  already  owned  by  TWE)  and  (iii) the
restructuring of the ownership of TWE.
 
     On   April   1,   1995,   TWE   and   the   Advance/Newhouse    Partnership
('Advance/Newhouse'),   a   New  York   general  partnership   between  Newhouse
Broadcasting Corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Advance  Publications,
Inc.,   formed  a  New  York  general  partnership  known  as  the  Time  Warner
Entertainment-Advance/Newhouse Partnership (the 'TWE-A/N Partnership'), in which
TWE  owns  a  two-thirds  equity  interest  and  is  the  managing  partner  and
Advance/Newhouse  owns a one-third equity  interest. The TWE-A/N Partnership was
formed to  own  and operate  cable  television systems  (or  interests  therein)
serving   approximately  4.5  million  subscribers  and  certain  foreign  cable
investments and programming investments (the 'TWE-A/N Transaction').
 
     The  Company  (i)  closed  on  May  2,  1995  its  acquisition  of   Summit
Communications Group, Inc. ('Summit') (the 'Summit Acquisition'); (ii) closed on
July  6, 1995 its acquisition of KBLCOM Incorporated ('KBLCOM'), a subsidiary of
Houston Industries Incorporated (which includes the Paragon interest referred to
above) (the  'KBLCOM Acquisition');  and (iii)  closed on  January 4,  1996  its
acquisition  of Cablevision  Industries Corporation ('CVI')  and certain related
companies (the 'CVI Acquisition'  and together with  the Summit Acquisition  and
the  KBLCOM  Acquisition, the  'Acquisitions'). To  acquire Summit,  the Company
issued approximately 1.55 million shares of its common stock, and  approximately
3.26  million shares of  a new convertible preferred  stock ('Series C Preferred
Stock') and assumed or incurred $146 million of indebtedness. To acquire KBLCOM,
the Company issued one million shares of its common stock and 11 million  shares
of a new convertible preferred stock ('Series D Preferred Stock') and assumed or
incurred  approximately $1.2 billion of  indebtedness, including $102 million of
the Company's  allocable share  of Paragon's  indebtedness. To  acquire CVI  and
certain  related companies, the Company issued  2.9 million shares of its common
stock and 6.5 million  shares of new convertible  preferred stock (3.25  million
shares of Series E Preferred Stock and 3.23 million shares of Series F Preferred
Stock) and assumed or incurred approximately $2 billion of indebtedness.
 
     TWE (i) on June 23, 1995, recapitalized Six Flags Entertainment Corporation
('Six  Flags'), sold 51% of its interest therein and granted certain licenses to
Six Flags (the 'Six Flags Transaction') and (ii) on May 18, 1995, announced  the
planned  sale  of  15  of  its  unclustered  cable  television  systems  serving
approximately 144,000 subscribers, certain  of which transactions closed  during
the  second and third quarters of 1995 (the 'Unclustered Cable Disposition', and
together with the Six Flags Transaction, the 'Asset Sale Transactions'). The net
proceeds from the Asset Sale  Transactions have been or  will be used to  reduce
outstanding indebtedness of TWE.
 
     On  June 30, 1995, a wholly owned  subsidiary of the Company ('TWI Cable'),
TWE and the TWE-A/N Partnership  executed a five-year revolving credit  facility
(the  'New Credit Agreement'). The New Credit Agreement enables such entities to
refinance certain  indebtedness  assumed  from the  companies  acquired  in  the
Acquisitions,  to refinance TWE's indebtedness  under a pre-existing bank credit
agreement and to finance  the ongoing working  capital, capital expenditure  and
other corporate needs of each borrower (the 'Bank Refinancing').
 
     On  August 15, 1995, the Company and a wholly-owned subsidiary, Time Warner
Financing Trust, completed a public offering of 12,057,561 PERCS of Time  Warner
Financing  Trust  (the 'PERCS  Offering'). The  PERCS  are subject  to mandatory
redemption on December 23, 1997, for an amount per PERCS equal to the lesser  of
$54.41  and  the  market  value of  a  share  of common  stock  of  Hasbro, Inc.
('Hasbro') on December 17,  1997, payable in cash  or, at the Company's  option,
Hasbro common stock.
 
     On  August 15, 1995, the Company redeemed all of its $1.8 billion principal
amount of outstanding  Redeemable Reset Notes  Due August 15,  2002 (the  'Reset
Notes') in exchange for approximately $454
 
                                      S-4
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
million  aggregate principal amount of Floating  Rate Notes Due August 15, 2000,
approximately $272 million aggregate principal amount of 7.975% Notes Due August
15, 2004,  approximately  $545  million  aggregate  principal  amount  of  8.11%
Debentures  Due  August  15,  2006,  and  approximately  $545  million aggregate
principal amount  of 8.18%  Debentures Due  August 15,  2007 (collectively,  the
'Exchange  Securities') (the 'Reset Notes Refinancing'). The Exchange Securities
were issued under the  Company's senior indenture dated  as of January 15,  1993
and rank pari passu with all other senior indebtedness of the Company.
 
     On  September 5, 1995,  and October 2,  1995, ITOCHU Corporation ('ITOCHU')
and Toshiba Corporation  ('Toshiba'), respectively, each  exchanged their  5.61%
pro  rata priority capital and residual equity  interests in TWE and their 6.25%
residual equity interests in TW Service  Holding I, L.P. and TW Service  Holding
II,  L.P., each of which owns certain  assets related to the TWE businesses (the
'Time Warner  Service Partnerships'),  for, in  the case  of ITOCHU,  8  million
shares  of two  series of new  convertible preferred stock  ('Series G Preferred
Stock' and  'Series H  Preferred Stock')  of the  Company and,  in the  case  of
Toshiba,  7 million shares of  a new convertible preferred  stock of the Company
('Series I  Preferred  Stock') and  $10  million in  cash  (the  'ITOCHU/Toshiba
Transaction').  As  a  result  of the  ITOCHU/Toshiba  Transaction,  the Company
directly or  indirectly  holds 74.49%  of  the  pro rata  priority  capital  and
residual  equity interests in TWE.  A subsidiary of U  S WEST owns the remaining
25.51% of the pro rata priority capital and residual equity interests in TWE.
 
     On September  18,  1995,  the Company  redeemed  approximately  $1  billion
principal  amount of its 8 3/4%  Convertible Subordinated Debentures due January
10, 2015 (the '8 3/4% Convertible Debentures') for an aggregate redemption price
of approximately  $1.06  billion,  including  redemption  premiums  and  accrued
interest thereon. The redemption was financed with approximately $500 million of
proceeds raised from the issuance of 7.75% ten-year notes (the '7.75% Notes') in
June  1995, $363 million of  net proceeds raised from  the issuance of the PERCS
and available cash and equivalents (the 'Market Refinancings').
 
     The  Market  Refinancings,  the  Reset  Notes  Refinancing  and  the   Bank
Refinancing are referred to herein as the '1995 Debt Refinancings'.
 
     The  Company has entered into an Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of
Merger dated as of September 22, 1995  (as so amended and restated, the  'Merger
Agreement')  to  provide for  the merger  of each  of the  Company and  TBS with
separate subsidiaries of  a holding company  to be named  Time Warner Inc.  (the
'Holding  Company Transaction' and  the acquisition of TBS  is herein called the
'TBS Transaction'). Pursuant to the Holding Company Transaction, the issued  and
outstanding  shares of each class of the capital  stock of the Company are to be
converted into the shares of an identical class of capital stock of the  holding
company.  In connection with  any such transaction, the  Company expects that it
would  cause  the  holding  company  to  provide  guarantees  of  the  Company's
obligations under its outstanding public debt, including the Debentures.
 
     In  connection with  the TBS Transaction,  the Company has  agreed to enter
into certain agreements  and related transactions  with certain shareholders  of
TBS,  including R.E.  Turner and Liberty  Media Corporation  ('LMC'). The Merger
Agreement and certain related agreements provide for the issuance by the holding
company of approximately 171.3 million shares of common stock ('Common  Stock'),
the   issuance  of  approximately  13  million  stock  options  to  replace  all
outstanding  TBS  options  and  the  assumption  of  TBS's  indebtedness  (which
approximated   $2.3  billion  at  September  30,  1995).  As  part  of  the  TBS
Transaction, LMC will  exchange the 50.8  million shares of  Common Stock to  be
received  by LMC  in the TBS  Transaction for shares  of a new  series of voting
common stock issued by the holding company ('LMC Voting Common Stock') and  will
receive  five million additional shares of LMC Voting Common Stock pursuant to a
separate option agreement, all of which will be placed in a voting trust or,  in
certain circumstances, exchanged for non-voting stock.
 
     The  TBS Transaction and the related  transactions are subject to customary
closing conditions, including the  approval of the shareholders  of TBS and  the
Company and certain regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that the TBS
Transaction  will be consummated. For further  discussion of the TBS Transaction
and the related transactions, and certain litigation relating thereto, reference
is made to the Company's  Current Reports on Form  8-K dated November 14,  1995,
and December 1, 1995, which are incorporated herein by reference.
 
                                      S-5
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
     The  TBS Transaction, the Acquisitions,  the TWE-A/N Transaction, the Asset
Sale  Transactions,   the  1995   Debt  Refinancings   and  the   ITOCHU/Toshiba
Transactions  are collectively referred  to herein as  the 'Transactions'. For a
further discussion  of the  Transactions,  reference is  made to  the  Company's
Current  Reports on  Form 8-K  dated November  14, 1995,  December 1,  1995, and
January 4, 1996, which are incorporated herein by reference.
 
     On December 5, 1995, the Company and a wholly-owned subsidiary, Time Warner
Capital I, completed a public offering of $575 million of 8 7/8% Preferred Trust
Securities (the 'Preferred  Trust Securities'). The  Preferred Trust  Securities
are  subject to optional redemption, at the election of the Company, on or after
December 31, 2000  at their  aggregate liquidation  amount, and  are subject  to
mandatory redemption on December 31, 2025 at such price. As discussed below, the
proceeds  from the offering of the Preferred Trust Securities, together with the
proceeds from the  Debentures offered  hereby and  the Debentures  Due 2036  (as
defined below), will be used to fund the redemption of the Company's outstanding
8  3/4% Convertible Debentures. The offerings of the Preferred Trust Securities,
the Debentures offered hereby  and the Debentures Due  2036 and such  redemption
are not included in the Transactions described above.
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
     The  net proceeds to  the Company from  the sale of  the Debentures offered
hereby will be  used, together with  the net  proceeds to the  Company from  the
concurrent  sale  of the  $200 million  aggregate  principal amount  at maturity
(yielding  approximately  $34  million  of  net  proceeds)  of  8.30%   Discount
Debentures  Due  2036  (the 'Debentures  Due  2036') and  other  available funds
(including primarily  the  net proceeds  of  the  offering of  $575  million  of
Preferred  Trust Securities), to redeem all  of the Company's outstanding 8 3/4%
Convertible Debentures for an aggregate redemption price of approximately $1.269
billion plus accrued interest thereon.
 
                                      S-6



<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                          CONSOLIDATED CAPITALIZATION
 
     The consolidated historical and pro forma capitalization of the Company and
the  Company's Entertainment Group, consisting  principally of TWE, at September
30, 1995, is set  set forth below. The  Entertainment Group is not  consolidated
with  Time Warner for  financial reporting purposes.  The consolidated pro forma
capitalization of the Entertainment Group gives effect to the Unclustered  Cable
Disposition  as if such transaction occurred  at such date. The consolidated pro
forma  capitalization  of  the  Company  gives  effect  in  column  (1)  to  the
Unclustered Cable Disposition and the CVI Acquisition, and in column (3) to each
of  such  transactions  and  the  TBS  Transaction,  in  each  case  as  if such
transactions occurred  at such  date.  The consolidated  pro forma  as  adjusted
capitalization  of the Company set forth in  columns (2) and (4) gives effect to
(i) in the case of column (2), the Transactions reflected in column (1) and,  in
the  case of column (4), the Transactions  reflected in column (3), (ii) in each
case, the  issuance of  the Debentures  offered hereby,  $200 million  aggregate
principal  amount  at  maturity  (yielding  approximately  $34  million  of  net
proceeds) of Debentures Due 2036 and $575 million of Preferred Trust  Securities
and  (iii)  in  each case,  the  use of  the  proceeds therefrom  to  redeem all
outstanding 8 3/4% Convertible Debentures at a redemption price of approximately
$1.269 billion plus accrued interest  thereon, as if such transactions  occurred
at  such  date.  The pro  forma  capitalization is  presented  for informational
purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the future capitalization  of
the Company, any new holding company and the Entertainment Group.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            TIME WARNER INC.
                               --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                (2)                             (4)          ENTERTAINMENT GROUP
                                                (1)           PRE-TBS           (3)           POST-TBS      ---------------------
                                              PRE-TBS        PRO FORMA        POST-TBS       PRO FORMA                      PRO
                               HISTORICAL   PRO FORMA(a)   AS ADJUSTED(a)   PRO FORMA(b)   AS ADJUSTED(b)   HISTORICAL     FORMA
                               ----------   ------------   --------------   ------------   --------------   ----------    -------
                                                                           (MILLIONS)
<S>                            <C>          <C>            <C>              <C>            <C>              <C>           <C>
Long-term debt:
   Time Warner Debt:
     7.45% and 7.95% notes....  $  1,000      $  1,000        $  1,000        $  1,000        $  1,000             --          --
     Exchange Securities......     1,816         1,816           1,816           1,816           1,816             --          --
     Zero coupon convertible
       notes due 2012 (6.25%
       yield)(c)..............       573           573             573             573             573             --          --
     Zero coupon convertible
       notes due 2013 (5%
       yield)(c)..............     1,006         1,006           1,006           1,006           1,006             --          --
     8.75%, 9.125% and 9.15%
       Debentures.............     2,248         2,248           2,248           2,248           2,248             --          --
     8 3/4% Convertible
       Debentures.............     1,226         1,226              --           1,226              --             --          --
     7.75% Notes..............       497           497             497             497             497             --          --
     Debt due to TWE (7.13%
       interest rate)(d)......       400           400             400             400             400             --          --
     Debentures offered
       hereby.................        --            --             716              --             716             --          --
     Debentures Due 2036(c)...        --            --              34              --              34             --          --
   Time Warner Cable
     Subsidiaries Debt:
     CVI 10 3/4% senior
       notes..................        --           300             300             300             300             --          --
     CVI 9 1/4% senior
       debentures.............        --           200             200             200             200             --          --
     Summit 10 1/2% senior
       subordinated
       debentures.............       140           140             140             140             140             --          --
     New Credit Agreement
       (weighted average
       interest rate of 6.8%
       with respect to TWI
       Cable and 6.4% with
       respect to TWE and the
       TWE-A/N
       Partnership)(e)........     1,250         2,731           2,731           2,731           2,731       $  1,805     $ 1,680
   TBS Debt:
     TBS credit agreement
       (weighted average
       interest rate of
       7.5%)..................        --            --              --           1,295           1,295             --          --
     TBS 8 3/8% and 7.4%
       senior notes...........        --            --              --             547             547             --          --
     TBS 8.4% senior
       debentures.............        --            --              --             200             200             --          --
     TBS zero coupon
       convertible notes due
       2007 (7.25%
       yield)(c)..............        --            --              --             259             259             --          --
     TBS other indebtedness...        --            --              --              35              35             --          --
   TWE Debt:
     TWE commercial paper
       (weighted average
       interest rate of
       6.2%)(f)...............        --            --              --              --              --            583         583
     TWE 8 7/8%, 9 5/8% and
       10.15% notes(f)........        --            --              --              --              --          1,197       1,197
     TWE 7 1/4%, 8 3/8% and
       8 3/8% debentures(f)...        --            --              --              --              --          2,584       2,584
   Other......................       175           175             175             275             275             12          12
                               ----------   ------------       -------      ------------       -------      ----------    -------
   Subtotal...................    10,331        12,312          11,836          14,748          14,272          6,181       6,056
   Reclassification of debt
     due to TWE to investments
     in and amounts due to the
     Entertainment Group(d)...      (400)         (400)           (400)           (400)           (400)            --          --
                               ----------   ------------       -------      ------------       -------      ----------    -------
   Total long-term debt.......     9,931        11,912          11,436          14,348          13,872          6,181       6,056
Company-obligated mandatorily
 redeemable preferred
 securities of subsidiaries
 holding solely subordinated
 notes and debentures of the
 Company......................       374           374             949             374             949             --          --
Shareholders' equity:
     Preferred stock
       liquidation
       preference.............     2,994         3,644           3,644           3,644           3,644             --          --
     Equity applicable to
       common stock...........       698           864             839           8,574           8,549             --          --
                               ----------   ------------       -------      ------------       -------      ----------    -------
Total shareholders' equity....     3,692         4,508           4,483          12,218          12,193             --          --
Time Warner General Partners'
 senior capital...............        --            --              --              --              --          1,398       1,398
Partners' capital.............        --            --              --              --              --          6,440       6,500
                               ----------   ------------       -------      ------------       -------      ----------    -------
Total capitalization..........  $ 13,997      $ 16,794        $ 16,868        $ 26,940        $ 27,014       $ 14,019     $13,954
                               ----------   ------------       -------      ------------       -------      ----------    -------
                               ----------   ------------       -------      ------------       -------      ----------    -------
</TABLE>
 
                                                   (footnotes on following page)
 
                                      S-7
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
 (a)  Also  reflects, on a pro forma basis, the capitalization of the Company as
      a separate subsidiary of the new holding company after consummation of the
      Holding Company Transaction. See 'Recent Developments'.
 
 (b)  Reflects, on a  pro forma  basis, the  capitalization of  the new  holding
      company  after consummation of  the Holding Company  Transaction (in which
      case the  Company  expects that  the  new holding  company  would  provide
      guarantees   of  the  Company's  outstanding  public  debt).  See  'Recent
      Developments'.
 
 (c)  The zero coupon convertible notes due  2012 and 2013 are reflected net  of
      unamortized  original issue discount of $1.078 billion and $1.409 billion,
      respectively. The Debentures  Due 2036  are reflected  net of  unamortized
      original  issue discount of $166 million.  The TBS zero coupon convertible
      notes due 2007 are reflected net of unamortized original issue discount of
      $323 million.
 
 (d)  The Company and TWE  entered into a credit  agreement in 1994 that  allows
      the  Company to borrow up  to $400 million from  TWE through September 15,
      2000. Outstanding borrowings from TWE bear  interest at LIBOR plus 1%  per
      annum.  For financial  reporting purposes,  the $400  million of currently
      outstanding loans from TWE to the Company have been reclassified and shown
      as a reduction  in the  Company's investments in  and amounts  due to  the
      Entertainment Group.
 
 (e)  The  New Credit Agreement permits borrowings  in an aggregate amount of up
      to $8.3 billion. Borrowings are limited to  $4 billion in the case of  TWI
      Cable,  $5 billion in the case of the TWE-A/N Partnership and $8.3 billion
      in the  case of  TWE, subject  in  each case  to certain  limitations  and
      adjustments.  Such borrowings bear interest at different rates for each of
      the three borrowers, generally equal to  LIBOR plus a margin ranging  from
      50  to 87.5 basis points based on  the credit rating or financial leverage
      of the  applicable borrower.  The New  Credit Agreement  contains  certain
      covenants  for each borrower  relating to, among  other things, additional
      indebtedness; liens on assets; cash flow coverage and leverage ratios; and
      loans, advances, distributions  and other  cash payments  or transfers  of
      assets  from the borrowers to their respective partners or affiliates. See
      'Recent Developments' and the Company's  Current Report on Form 8-K  dated
      November  14, 1995, incorporated by reference herein, for a description of
      the New Credit Agreement.
 
 (f)  Guaranteed by certain subsidiaries  of the Company  which are the  general
      partners of TWE.
 
                                      S-8



<PAGE>
<PAGE>
            SELECTED HISTORICAL AND PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
COMPANY SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
     The  selected  historical financial  information of  the Company  set forth
below has  been  derived  from  and  should be  read  in  conjunction  with  the
consolidated financial statements and other financial information of the Company
contained  in  the Company's  Annual  Report on  Form  10-K for  the  year ended
December 31, 1994,  as amended,  and with the  unaudited consolidated  condensed
financial  statements contained in  the Company's Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q
for the  quarter ended  September 30,  1995, which  are incorporated  herein  by
reference.  The selected historical financial  information for all periods after
1992 reflect the  deconsolidation of the  Entertainment Group, principally  TWE,
effective  January 1,  1993. Capitalized terms  are as defined  and described in
such historical financial statements, or elsewhere herein.
 
     The  selected  historical  financial  information  for  1995  reflects  the
issuance  of  29.3  million  shares of  convertible  preferred  stock  having an
aggregate liquidation preference of  $2.926 billion in  connection with (i)  the
acquisitions of KBLCOM and Summit and (ii) the exchange by Toshiba and ITOCHU of
their  direct and indirect  interests in TWE.  The selected historical financial
information for 1993 reflects the issuance of $6.1 billion of long-term debt and
the use of $500 million of cash  and equivalents for the exchange or  redemption
of  preferred stock having an aggregate  liquidation preference of $6.4 billion.
The  selected   historical  financial   information   for  1992   reflects   the
capitalization  of TWE  on June  30, 1992  and associated  refinancings, and the
acquisition  of  the  18.7%  minority   interest  in  American  Television   and
Communications  Corporation  ('ATC') as  of June  30,  1992, using  the purchase
method of accounting  for business  combinations. Per common  share amounts  and
average  common shares  have been  restated to  give effect  to the four-for-one
common stock split that occurred on September 10, 1992.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                NINE MONTHS
                                                   ENDED
                                               SEPTEMBER 30,                     YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                             -----------------     -----------------------------------------------------
                                              1995       1994       1994       1993       1992        1991        1990
                                             ------     ------     ------     ------     -------     -------     -------
                                                                      (MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS AND RATIOS)
<S>                                          <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>
OPERATING STATEMENT INFORMATION
Revenues.................................    $5,705     $5,109     $7,396     $6,581     $13,070     $12,021     $11,517
Depreciation and amortization............       398        319        437        424       1,172       1,109       1,138
Business segment operating income(a).....       343        423        713        591       1,343       1,154       1,114
Equity in pretax income of Entertainment
  Group..................................       235        177        176        281          --          --          --
Interest and other, net..................       615        514        724        718         882         966       1,133
Net income (loss)(b)(c)..................      (199)      (103)       (91)      (221)         86         (99)       (227)
Net loss applicable to common shares
  (after preferred dividends)............      (223)      (112)      (104)      (339)       (542)       (692)       (786)
Per share of common stock:
        Net loss(b)(c)...................    $ (.58)    $ (.30)    $ (.27)    $ (.90)    $ (1.46)    $ (2.40)    $ (3.42)
        Dividends........................    $  .27     $  .26     $  .35     $  .31     $  .265     $   .25     $   .25
Average common shares(c).................     382.5      378.8      378.9      374.7       371.0       288.2       229.9
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
  (deficiency in the coverage of fixed
  charges by earnings before fixed
  charges)(d)............................    $  (46)       1.1x       1.1x       1.1x        1.4x        1.1x    $  (101)
 
                                                                                           (footnotes on following page)
</TABLE>
 
                                      S-9
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                 DECEMBER 31,
                                                SEPTEMBER 30,   -----------------------------------------------
                                                    1995         1994      1993      1992      1991      1990
                                                -------------   -------   -------   -------   -------   -------
                                                                                  (MILLIONS)
<S>                                             <C>             <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>
BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION
Investments in and amounts due to and from
  Entertainment Group.........................     $ 6,022      $ 5,350   $ 5,627   $    --   $    --   $    --
Total assets..................................      21,422       16,716    16,892    27,366    24,889    25,337
Long-term debt................................       9,931        8,839     9,291    10,068     8,716    11,184
Company-obligated mandatorily redeemable
  preferred securities of subsidiary holding
  solely Company subordinated notes...........         374           --        --        --        --        --
Shareholders' equity:
  Preferred stock liquidation preference......       2,994          140       140     6,532     6,256     5,954
  Equity applicable to common stock...........         698        1,008     1,230     1,635     2,242       360
  Total shareholders' equity..................       3,692        1,148     1,370     8,167     8,498     6,314
</TABLE>
 
- ------------
 
 (a) Business segment operating income for  the nine months ended September  30,
     1995  includes $85  million in  losses relating  to certain  businesses and
     joint ventures owned by the Music division which are being restructured  or
     closed.  Operating income for  the year ended December  31, 1991 includes a
     $60  million  charge  relating  to  the  restructuring  of  the  Publishing
     division.
 
 (b) The  net loss  for the  nine months  ended September  30, 1995  includes an
     extraordinary loss  on the  retirement of  debt of  $42 million  ($.11  per
     common  share). The net loss for the  year ended December 31, 1993 includes
     an extraordinary loss on  the retirement of debt  of $57 million ($.15  per
     common  share) and an unusual charge of $70 million ($.19 per common share)
     from the effect of the new income tax law on the Company's deferred  income
     tax liability.
 
 (c) In  August 1991, the Company completed the  sale of 137.9 million shares of
     common stock pursuant to a rights offering. Net proceeds of $2.558  billion
     from  the  rights  offering  were used  to  reduce  indebtedness  under the
     Company's bank credit agreement. If the rights offering had been  completed
     at  the beginning of 1991, net loss for the year would have been reduced to
     $33 million, or  $1.70 per common  share, and there  would have been  369.3
     million shares of common stock outstanding during the year.
 
 (d) For  purposes  of the  ratio of  earnings to  fixed charges,  earnings were
     calculated  by   adding  pretax   income,  interest   expense,   previously
     capitalized   interest  amortized   to  expense,   the  portion   of  rents
     representative of an interest factor, preferred stock dividend requirements
     of majority-owned subsidiaries, the  Company's proportionate share of  such
     items  for  its majority-owned  subsidiaries  and 50%-owned  companies, and
     undistributed  losses  of  less-than-50%-owned  companies.  Fixed   charges
     consist  of interest  expense, interest  capitalized, the  portion of rents
     representative of an interest factor, preferred stock dividend requirements
     of majority-owned  subsidiaries and  the Company's  proportionate share  of
     such  items for  majority-owned subsidiaries  and 50%-owned  companies. For
     periods in which earnings before  fixed charges were insufficient to  cover
     fixed  charges, the  dollar amount of  coverage deficiency,  instead of the
     ratio, is  disclosed.  Earnings  as  defined  include  significant  noncash
     charges  for depreciation and amortization.  In addition, fixed charges for
     the nine  months ended  September 30,  1995  and 1994  and the  year  ended
     December  31, 1994 include  noncash interest expense  of $156 million, $162
     million and $219 million, respectively, relating to the Reset Notes and the
     Company's zero coupon convertible notes due 2012 and 2013.
 
ENTERTAINMENT GROUP SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
     The selected historical  financial information of  the Entertainment  Group
set forth below has been derived from and should be read in conjunction with the
consolidated financial statements and other financial information of the Company
and TWE contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December  31, 1994,  as amended, and  with the  unaudited consolidated condensed
financial statements  and other  financial information  of the  Company and  TWE
contained  in the Company's Quarterly Report on  Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
September 30,  1995, which  are incorporated  herein by  reference. For  periods
prior to January 1, 1993, the Entertainment Group is
 
                                      S-10
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
consolidated with the Company for financial reporting purposes and, accordingly,
is also reflected in the Company's summary historical financial information.
 
     The  selected  historical  financial  information  for  1995  reflects  the
consolidation by TWE of the TWE-A/N Partnership resulting from the formation  of
such  partnership,  effective as  of  April 1,  1995,  and the  consolidation of
Paragon effective  as  of  July  6,  1995.  The  selected  historical  financial
information  gives  effect  to  the  consolidation  of  Six  Flags Entertainment
Corporation ('Six Flags')  effective as of  January 1,  1993 as a  result of  an
increase in TWE's ownership of Six Flags from 50% to 100% in September 1993, and
the  subsequent deconsolidation of  Six Flags resulting  from the disposition by
TWE of a 51% interest in Six Flags  effective as of June 23, 1995. The  selected
historical  financial information for 1993 also gives effect to the admission of
U S WEST as an  additional limited partner of TWE  as of September 15, 1993  and
the  issuance  of $2.6  billion  of TWE  debentures  during the  year  to reduce
indebtedness under the TWE  credit agreement, and for  1992 gives effect to  the
initial  capitalization of TWE and associated  refinancings as of the dates such
transactions were consummated and the Company's acquisition of the ATC  minority
interest  as of  June 30,  1992, using  the purchase  method of  accounting. The
Company's cost  to  acquire  the  ATC minority  interest  is  reflected  in  the
consolidated   financial  statements  of  TWE   under  the  pushdown  method  of
accounting.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                        SEPTEMBER 30,                    YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                      -----------------     --------------------------------------------------
                                                       1995       1994       1994       1993       1992       1991       1990
                                                      ------     ------     ------     ------     ------     ------     ------
                                                                                        (MILLIONS, EXCEPT RATIOS)
<S>                                                   <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
OPERATING STATEMENT INFORMATION
Revenues..........................................    $6,871     $6,205     $8,509     $7,963     $6,761     $6,068     $5,671
Depreciation and amortization.....................       780        719        959        909        788        733        775
Business segment operating income.................       749        673        852        905        814        724        549
Interest and other, net...........................       467        451        616        564        531        526        648
Net income (loss)(a)..............................       149        137        136        207        173        103       (180)
TWE ratio of earnings to fixed charges (deficiency
  in the coverage of fixed charges by earnings
  before fixed charges)(b)........................       1.5x       1.5x       1.4x       1.4x       1.4x       1.4x    $ (138)
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                    DECEMBER 31,
                                                   SEPTEMBER 30,   -----------------------------------------------
                                                       1995         1994      1993      1992      1991      1990
                                                   -------------   -------   -------   -------   -------   -------
                                                                                     (MILLIONS)
<S>                                                <C>             <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>
BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION
Total assets.....................................     $18,541      $18,992   $18,202   $15,886   $14,230   $14,415
Long-term debt...................................       6,181        7,160     7,125     7,171     4,571     6,516
Time Warner General Partners' senior capital.....       1,398        1,663     1,536        --        --        --
Partners' capital................................       6,440        6,491     6,228     6,483     6,717     5,809
</TABLE>
 
- ------------
 
 (a) Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 1995, and the year ended
     December 31, 1993 includes an extraordinary loss on the retirement of  debt
     of $24 million and $10 million, respectively.
 
 (b) For  purposes  of the  ratio of  earnings to  fixed charges,  earnings were
     calculated  by   adding  pretax   income,  interest   expense,   previously
     capitalized   interest  amortized   to  expense,   the  portion   of  rents
     representative of an  interest factor,  TWE's proportionate  share of  such
     items  for  its majority-owned  subsidiaries  and 50%-owned  companies, and
     undistributed  losses  of  less-than-50%-owned  companies.  Fixed   charges
     consist  of interest  expense, interest  capitalized, the  portion of rents
     representative of an interest factor and TWE's proportionate share of  such
     items  for majority-owned subsidiaries and 50%-owned companies. For periods
     in which earnings  before fixed  charges were insufficient  to cover  fixed
     charges, the dollar amount of coverage deficiency, instead of the ratio, is
     disclosed.  Earnings  as defined  include  significant noncash  charges for
     depreciation and amortization.
 
COMPANY AND ENTERTAINMENT GROUP SELECTED PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
     The  unaudited  selected  pro  forma  balance  sheet  information  of   the
Entertainment  Group at September 30,  1995 set forth below  gives effect to the
Unclustered Cable Disposition, as  if such transaction had  occurred as of  such
date.  The unaudited selected pro forma balance sheet information of the Company
at September  30,  1995 set  forth  below gives  effect  in column  (1)  to  the
Unclustered
 
                                      S-11
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
Cable  Disposition and  the CVI Acquisition  and in  column (2) to  each of such
transactions and  the TBS  Transaction, in  each case  as if  such  transactions
occurred  at such date. The Summit Acquisition, the KBLCOM Acquisition, the 1995
Debt Refinancings, the ITOCHU/Toshiba  Transaction, the TWE-A/N Transaction  and
the Six Flags Transaction are already reflected in the historical balance sheets
of  the  Company and  the  Entertainment Group  as  of September  30,  1995. The
unaudited  selected   pro  forma   operating   statement  information   of   the
Entertainment  Group for the nine  months ended September 30,  1995 and the year
ended December  31,  1994  set  forth  below gives  effect  to  the  Asset  Sale
Transactions, the TWE-A/N Transaction and the 1995 Debt Refinancings, as if such
transactions  occurred at the beginning of  such periods. The unaudited selected
pro forma operating  statement information of  the Company for  the nine  months
ended  September 30, 1995 and  the year ended December  31, 1994 set forth below
gives effect  in  column  (1)  to  the  Asset  Sale  Transactions,  the  TWE-A/N
Transaction, the 1995 Debt Refinancings, the Acquisitions and the ITOCHU/Toshiba
Transaction,  and  in  column (2)  to  each  of such  transactions  and  the TBS
Transaction, in each case  as if the transactions  occurred at the beginning  of
such  periods. No pro forma  effect has been given  in the information set forth
below for the issuance of the Debentures offered hereby, the Debentures Due 2036
and the Preferred Trust Securities, and the redemption of the 8 3/4% Convertible
Debentures because such  transactions will  not have  a material  effect on  the
Company  or  the new  holding company  (see 'Consolidated  Capitalization'). The
selected pro forma financial information should be read in conjunction with  the
'Time  Warner Inc. and the Entertainment  Group Pro Forma Consolidated Condensed
Financial Statements' included in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated
November 14, 1995, which is incorporated herein by reference.
     The selected pro forma financial information is presented for informational
purposes only and  is not necessarily  indicative of the  financial position  or
operating results that would have occurred if the transactions given retroactive
effect  therein  had been  consummated  as of  the  dates indicated,  nor  is it
necessarily indicative of future financial conditions or operating results.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  NINE MONTHS                                YEAR ENDED
                                           ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1995                       DECEMBER 31, 1994
                                   -----------------------------------------  -----------------------------------------
                                       (1)           (2)                          (1)           (2)
                                     COMPANY       COMPANY                      COMPANY       COMPANY
                                     PRE-TBS       POST-TBS    ENTERTAINMENT    PRE-TBS       POST-TBS    ENTERTAINMENT
                                   PRO FORMA(a)  PRO FORMA(b)      GROUP      PRO FORMA(a)  PRO FORMA(b)      GROUP
                                   ------------  ------------  -------------  ------------  ------------  -------------
                                                     (MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS AND RATIOS)
<S>                                <C>           <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>           <C>
PRO FORMA OPERATING STATEMENT
  INFORMATION
Revenues..........................    $6,249        $8,764        $ 6,945        $8,217       $ 11,026       $ 8,790
Depreciation and amortization.....       699           998            808           912          1,263         1,040
Business segment operating
  income..........................       339           435            761           652            704           928
Equity in pretax income of
  Entertainment Group.............       259           259             --           208            208            --
Interest and other, net...........       770           921            455           940          1,143           660
Income (loss) before extraordinary
  item............................      (254)         (347)           200          (266)          (437)          174
Loss before extraordinary item
  applicable to common shares
  (after preferred dividends).....      (363)         (456)            --          (412)          (583)           --
Per share of common stock:
    Loss before extraordinary
      item........................      (.94)         (.81)            --         (1.07)         (1.04)           --
    Dividends.....................       .27           .27             --           .35            .35            --
Average common shares.............     386.4         562.7             --         384.0          560.3            --
Company and TWE ratio of earnings
  to fixed charges (deficiency in
  the coverage of fixed charges by
  earnings before fixed
  charges)(c).....................    $ (181)       $ (233)           1.7x       $  (77)      $   (273)          1.6x
                                                                                          (footnotes on following page)
</TABLE>
 
                                      S-12
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   SEPTEMBER 30, 1995
                                                                      ---------------------------------------------
                                                                          (1)             (2)
                                                                        COMPANY         COMPANY
                                                                        PRE-TBS         POST-TBS      ENTERTAINMENT
                                                                      PRO FORMA(a)    PRO FORMA(b)        GROUP
                                                                      ------------    ------------    -------------
                                                                                       (MILLIONS)
 
<S>                                                                   <C>             <C>             <C>
PRO FORMA BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION
Investments in and amounts due to and from Entertainment Group.....     $  6,082        $  6,082         $    --
Total assets.......................................................       25,265          36,792          18,476
Long-term debt.....................................................       11,912          14,348           6,056
Company-obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred securities of
  subsidiary holding solely Company subordinated notes.............          374             374              --
Shareholders' equity:
     Preferred stock liquidation preference........................        3,644           3,644              --
     Equity applicable to common stock.............................          864           8,574              --
     Total shareholders' equity....................................        4,508          12,218              --
Time Warner General Partners' senior capital.......................           --              --           1,398
Partners' capital..................................................           --              --           6,500
</TABLE>
 
- ------------
 
 (a) Also reflects, on a pro forma  basis, the Company as a separate  subsidiary
     of  the  new  holding company  after  consummation of  the  Holding Company
     Transaction. See 'Recent Developments'.
 
 (b) Reflects, on a pro forma basis, the new holding company after  consummation
     of  the Holding Company Transaction (in which case the Company expects that
     the  new  holding  company  would  provide  guarantees  of  the   Company's
     outstanding public debt). See 'Recent Developments'.
 
 (c) For  purposes  of the  ratio of  earnings to  fixed charges,  earnings were
     calculated  by   adding  pretax   income,  interest   expense,   previously
     capitalized  interest  and  amortized  to  expense,  the  portion  of rents
     representative of an interest factor, preferred stock dividend requirements
     of majority-owned subsidiaries,  the proportionate  share for  each of  the
     Company  and  TWE,  respectively,  of  such  items  for  its majority-owned
     subsidiaries and  50%-owned companies,  and undistributed  losses of  less-
     than-50%-owned  companies.  Fixed  charges  consist  of  interest  expense,
     interest capitalized, the  portion of rents  representative of an  interest
     factor,   preferred   stock   dividend   requirements   of   majority-owned
     subsidiaries and the proportionate share for  each of the Company and  TWE,
     respectively,  of such items for  majority-owned subsidiaries and 50%-owned
     companies.  For  periods  in  which  earnings  before  fixed  charges  were
     insufficient  to  cover  fixed  charges,  the  dollar  amount  of  coverage
     deficiency, instead of the ratio, is disclosed. Earnings as defined include
     significant  noncash  charges  for  depreciation  and  amortization.  Fixed
     charges  for the Company for  the nine months ended  September 30, 1995 and
     the year ended  December 31,  1994 in column  (1) and  column (2)  included
     noncash  interest  expense of  $63 million  and $79  million, respectively,
     relating to the Company's zero coupon  convertible notes due 2012 and  2013
     and,  in  column  (2) only,  an  additional  $14 million  and  $17 million,
     respectively, relating to TBS's zero coupon convertible notes due 2007.
 
                                      S-13


<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                         DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBENTURES
 
     Each of the Debentures Due 2008, the Debentures Due 2016 and the Debentures
Due  2026 is a separate series of  Debt Securities described in the accompanying
Prospectus that will be issued under an  indenture dated as of January 15,  1993
(the  'Indenture'),  between  the Company  and  Chemical Bank,  as  trustee (the
'Trustee'). The following description of the particular terms of the  Debentures
offered  hereby supplements, and to  the extent inconsistent therewith replaces,
the description of the general terms  and provisions of the Debt Securities  set
forth  in the accompanying Prospectus, to  which description reference is hereby
made. Capitalized  terms used  but not  defined herein  or in  the  accompanying
Prospectus  have the meanings given to them in the Indenture. Section references
are to the Indenture unless otherwise indicated.
 
GENERAL
 
     Each Debenture will bear interest at  the applicable annual rate set  forth
on the cover page of this Prospectus Supplement, payable semiannually on January
15 and July 15 of each year, commencing July 15, 1996 (each an 'Interest Payment
Date'), to holders of record at the close of business on the January 1 or July 1
next  preceding each such  Interest Payment Date. The  Debentures will be issued
only in  registered  form,  without  coupons, in  denominations  of  $1,000  and
integral multiples thereof. The principal of and interest on the Debentures will
be  payable and the transfer  of the Debentures will  be registrable through the
Depositary as described under ' --  Book Entry System' below. (Sections 305  and
202 and Form of Debentures) The Company will not charge a service charge for any
registration  of transfer  or exchange of  Debentures; however,  the Company may
require payment by a Holder of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, assessment  or
other  governmental charge  payable in  connection therewith.  (Section 305) The
Trustee shall  authenticate  and  deliver  Debentures  in  accordance  with  the
Indenture  and  the procedures  for  dating, due  execution  by the  Company and
book-entry transfer set forth therein. (Section 303)
 
TERMS OF THE DEBENTURES DUE 2008
 
     The Debentures Due 2008 will be limited to $165,923,000 aggregate principal
amount. The Debentures Due 2008 will mature on January 15, 2008 and will not  be
redeemable prior to maturity or entitled to any sinking fund.
 
TERMS OF THE DEBENTURES DUE 2016
 
     The Debentures Due 2016 will be limited to $150,000,000 aggregate principal
amount.  The Debentures Due 2016 will mature on January 15, 2016 and will not be
redeemable prior to maturity or entitled to any sinking fund.
 
TERMS OF THE DEBENTURES DUE 2026
 
     The Debentures Due 2026 will be limited to $400,000,000 aggregate principal
amount. The Debentures Due 2026 will mature on January 15, 2026.
 
     REDEMPTION. The Debentures Due 2026 will not be redeemable at the option of
the Company prior  to maturity  or entitled  to any  sinking fund,  but will  be
redeemable on January 15, 2003, at the option of the holders thereof, at 100% of
their principal amount, together with accrued and unpaid interest to the date of
redemption.  Less than the entire principal amount of any Debenture Due 2026 may
be redeemed, provided the principal amount which  is to be redeemed is equal  to
$1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000.
 
     DTC  or  any successor  depositary (the  'Depositary')  or its  nominee, as
registered holder of  the Debentures Due  2026, will be  entitled to tender  the
Debentures  on  January  15, 2003  for  repayment.  During the  period  from and
including November 15, 2002 to and  including December 15, 2002, the  Depositary
will  receive instructions from its participants  (acting on behalf of owners of
beneficial interests in the  Debentures Due 2026) to  tender the Debentures  Due
2026  for repayment under the Depositary's procedures. Such tender for repayment
will be made by the Depositary, provided that the
 
                                      S-14
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
Depositary receives instructions  from tendering participants  by Noon New  York
City  time on  December 15,  2002. The Depositary  will notify  the Paying Agent
designated pursuant to the  Indenture by the close  of business on December  15,
2002  as to the aggregate  principal amount of the  Debentures Due 2026, if any,
for which  the  Depositary  shall  have  received  instructions  to  tender  for
repayment.
 
     OWNERS  OF  BENEFICIAL  INTERESTS  IN  DEBENTURES  DUE  2026  WHO  WISH  TO
EFFECTUATE THE TENDER AND  REPAYMENT OF SUCH DEBENTURES  DUE 2026 MUST  INSTRUCT
THEIR  RESPECTIVE DEPOSITARY PARTICIPANT OR PARTICIPANTS SUFFICIENTLY IN ADVANCE
OF DECEMBER  15,  2002 IN  ORDER  TO PERMIT  SUCH  PARTICIPANTS TO  CONVEY  SUCH
INSTRUCTIONS  TO THE DEPOSITARY IN  A TIMELY MANNER TO  PERMIT THE DEPOSITARY TO
TENDER THE DEBENTURES DUE 2026 COVERED  BY SUCH INSTRUCTIONS. HOLDERS WILL  BEAR
THE RISK OF A FAILURE TO CONVEY THEIR INSTRUCTIONS IN A TIMELY MANNER.
 
     If  at any time the use of  a book-entry only system through the Depositary
(or any successor  securities depositary)  is discontinued with  respect to  the
Debentures   Due  2026  and   the  Debentures  are   represented  by  individual
certificates, tenders for repayment  of any Debentures Due  2026 on January  15,
2003  shall  be made  according to  the following  procedures. The  Company must
receive at the principal office of the Paying Agent, during the period from  and
including  November  15,  2002  to  and including  December  15,  2002:  (i) the
Debentures Due 2026 with  the form entitled 'Option  to Elect Repayment' on  the
reverse of the Debentures Due 2026 duly completed; or (ii)(x) a telegram, telex,
facsimile transmission or letter from a member of a national securities exchange
or the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or a commercial bank or
a  trust company in the United States of  America, setting forth the name of the
registered holder  of the  Debentures  Due 2026,  the  principal amount  of  the
Debentures  Due 2026,  the amount  of the  Debentures Due  2026 to  be repaid, a
statement that the option  to elect repayment is  being exercised thereby and  a
guarantee  that the  Debentures Due  2026 to be  repaid, with  the form entitled
'Option to  Elect Repayment'  on the  reverse of  the Debentures  Due 2026  duly
completed,  will be received  by the Company  not later than  five business days
after the date of  such telegram, telex, facsimile  transmission or letter;  and
(y)  such  Debentures Due  2026 and  forms  duly completed  are received  by the
Company by such  fifth business  day. Any such  notice received  by the  Company
during the period from and including November 15, 2002 to and including December
15,  2002 shall  be irrevocable. All  questions as to  the validity, eligibility
(including time of receipt)  and the acceptance of  any Debentures Due 2026  for
repayment  will be determined by the  Company, whose determination will be final
and binding.
 
     For all purposes of this  section, if December 15,  2002 is not a  business
day, it shall be deemed to refer to the next succeeding business day.
 
RANKING AND HOLDING COMPANY STRUCTURE
 
     The  Debentures will  be senior indebtedness  of the Company  and will rank
pari passu with all other unsecured and unsubordinated debt of the Company.  See
'Consolidated  Capitalization'. The Debentures  will be effectively subordinated
to all existing and future liabilities, including indebtedness, of  subsidiaries
of  the  Company.  As of  September  30,  1995, the  Company's  consolidated and
unconsolidated  subsidiaries   had   approximately  $15.2   billion   of   total
liabilities,  including approximately $7.6 billion of indebtedness. Indebtedness
of the  Company's  consolidated  and unconsolidated  subsidiaries  increased  by
approximately  $2 billion as a result of the consummation of the CVI Acquisition
on January 4,  1996. The consolidated  indebtedness of the  new holding  company
will  increase  by an  additional  $2.3 billion  after  consummation of  the TBS
Transaction. The Company's  rights and  the rights of  its creditors,  including
holders  of  Debentures, to  participate in  the distribution  of assets  of any
subsidiary upon such subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization will be  subject
to  prior  claims of  such  subsidiary's creditors,  including  trade creditors,
except to the extent the Company may itself be a creditor with recognized claims
against such subsidiary.  See 'Holding  Company Structure'  in the  accompanying
Prospectus.
 
                                      S-15
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
 
     LIMITATION  ON LIENS. The  Indenture provides that  neither the Company nor
any Material  Subsidiary of  the  Company shall  incur, create,  issue,  assume,
guarantee  or otherwise  become liable for  any indebtedness  for money borrowed
that is secured by  a lien on any  asset now owned or  hereafter acquired by  it
unless  the Company makes or  causes to be made  effective provision whereby the
Debentures will be secured by such lien  equally and ratably with (or prior  to)
all other indebtedness thereby secured so long as any such indebtedness shall be
secured. The foregoing restriction does not apply to the following:
 
          (i) liens existing as of the date of the Indenture;
 
          (ii)   liens  created  by  Subsidiaries   of  the  Company  to  secure
     indebtedness of such Subsidiaries  to the Company or  to one or more  other
     Subsidiaries of the Company;
 
          (iii)  liens affecting  property of a  person existing at  the time it
     becomes a  Subsidiary of  the Company  or at  the time  it merges  into  or
     consolidates with the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company or at the time
     of  a sale, lease or  other disposition of all  or substantially all of the
     properties of such person to the Company or its Subsidiaries;
 
          (iv) liens on property exiting at the time of the acquisition  thereof
     or  incurred  to secure  payment of  all or  a part  of the  purchase price
     thereof or to  secure Indebtedness incurred  prior to, at  the time of,  or
     within  one year after the acquisition thereof for the purpose of financing
     all or part of the purchase price thereof;
 
          (v) liens  on any  property  to secure  all or  part  of the  cost  of
     improvements  or construction  thereon or indebtedness  incurred to provide
     funds for such purpose in a principal amount not exceeding the cost of such
     improvements or construction;
 
          (vi) liens  consisting  of  or  relating  to  the  sale,  transfer  or
     financing   of  motion  pictures,  video  and  television  programs,  sound
     recordings, books or rights with respect  thereto to or with so-called  tax
     shelter  groups  or  other  third-party investors  in  connection  with the
     financing of such motion pictures, video and television programming,  sound
     recordings  or books in the ordinary course of business and the granting to
     the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of rights to distribute such  motion
     pictures,  video  and television  programming,  sound recordings  or books;
     provided, however, that no such lien shall attach to any asset or right  of
     the  Company or its Subsidiaries (other than the motion pictures, video and
     television programming, sound recordings, books or rights which were  sold,
     transferred  to  or  financed  by  the  tax  shelter  group  or third-party
     investors in question or the proceeds arising therefrom);
 
          (vii) liens on shares of stock, indebtedness or other securities of  a
     Person that is not a Subsidiary;
 
          (viii)  other  liens arising  in connection  with indebtedness  of the
     Company and  its Subsidiaries  in  an aggregate  principal amount  for  the
     Company and its Subsidiaries not exceeding at the time such lien is issued,
     created  or assumed the greater of (A) 10% of the Consolidated Net Worth of
     the Company and (B) $500 million; and
 
          (ix) any extensions, renewal or replacement of any lien referred to in
     the foregoing clauses (i) through (viii) inclusive, or of any  indebtedness
     secured thereby; provided that the principal amount of indebtedness secured
     thereby shall not exceed the principal amount of indebtedness so secured at
     the time of such extension, renewal or replacement, or at the time the lien
     was  issued,  created  or assumed  or  otherwise permitted,  and  that such
     extension, renewal or replacement lien shall  be limited to all or part  of
     substantially the same property which secured the lien extended, renewed or
     replaced (plus improvements on such property). (Section 1006)
 
     LIMITATION  ON SENIOR  DEBT. The Indenture  provides that  the Company will
not, and  will not  permit any  of its  Subsidiaries to,  incur, create,  issue,
assume,  guarantee  or  otherwise  become  directly  or  indirectly  liable  for
(collectively, 'incur')  any  Senior  Debt,  if  after  giving  effect  to  such
incurrence of Senior Debt, determined on a pro forma basis as if such incurrence
had  occurred on the  first day of  the Test Period,  the Consolidated Cash Flow
Coverage Ratio for the Company and its Subsidiaries for the Test Period would be
less than 1.5 to 1; provided, however, that the foregoing restrictions will  not
apply
 
                                      S-16
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
to  TWE or any  of its Subsidiaries to  the extent that  the application of such
restrictions would be  prohibited under,  or cause  a violation  of, TWE's  bank
credit  agreement as in effect from time to time or any successor or replacement
credit agreement. (Section 1007)
 
     Other than the  restrictions in the  Indenture on liens  and incurrence  of
Senior Debt described above, the Indenture and the Debentures do not contain any
covenants  or  other provisions  designed to  afford  holders of  the Debentures
protection in the event  of a recapitalization  or highly leveraged  transaction
involving the Company.
 
     LIMITATION  ON  MERGER,  CONSOLIDATION  AND CERTAIN  SALES  OF  ASSETS. The
Indenture provides that the Company will not merge or consolidate with or  into,
or  convey or transfer its property substantially  as an entirety to, any Person
unless (a) the successor is organized and existing under the laws of the  United
States  or any State or the District  of Columbia, (b) the successor assumes the
Company's obligations under the Indenture and  the Debentures on the same  terms
and  conditions and  (c) immediately  after giving  effect to  such transaction,
there is no default under the Indenture. (Section 801)
 
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
 
     The following are certain of the terms defined in the Indenture:
 
          'Consolidated Cash Flow' means, for any period, the net income of  the
     Company  and  its Subsidiaries  as determined  on  a consolidated  basis in
     accordance with GAAP  consistently applied, plus  the sum of  depreciation,
     amortization,  other noncash  charges which  reduce net  income, income tax
     expense and  interest expense,  in  each case  to  the extent  deducted  in
     determining  such net income, and  excluding extraordinary gains or losses.
     Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining the Consolidated
     Cash Flow of the Company, there shall be included, in respect of each other
     Person that  is accounted  for by  the  Company on  the equity  method  (as
     determined  in accordance with GAAP), the Company's proportionate amount of
     such  other  Person's  and  its  Subsidiaries'  consolidated  net   income,
     depreciation,  amortization, other noncash charges which reduce net income,
     income tax  expense  and interest  expense,  in  each case  to  the  extent
     deducted   in  determining  such  other   Person's  net  income,  excluding
     extraordinary gains and losses.
 
          'Consolidated Cash Flow  Coverage Ratio'  means, for  any period,  the
     ratio  for such period  of Consolidated Cash  Flow to Consolidated Interest
     Expense. In determining the Consolidated  Cash Flow Coverage Ratio,  effect
     shall  be given  to the  application of the  proceeds of  Senior Debt whose
     incurrence is being tested to the extent such proceeds are used to repay or
     refinance other Senior Debt.
 
          'Consolidated Interest Expense' means,  for any period, cash  interest
     expense  of the Company and its Subsidiaries on Senior Debt for such period
     other than the amount amortized during  such period in respect of all  fees
     paid in connection with the incurrence of such Senior Debt, such expense to
     be  determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently
     applied. Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  for purposes  of determining  the
     Consolidated  Interest Expense of the Company,  there shall be included, in
     respect of each other Person  that is accounted for  by the Company on  the
     equity  method  (as  determined  in accordance  with  GAAP),  the Company's
     proportionate amount of the cash interest expense of such other Person  and
     its  Subsidiaries on  Senior Debt  for the  relevant period  other than the
     amount amortized  during  such  period  in respect  of  all  fees  paid  in
     connection  with the  incurrence of  such Senior  Debt, such  expense to be
     determined on a  consolidated basis  in accordance  with GAAP  consistently
     applied.
 
          'Consolidated  Net Worth' means, at the date of any determination, the
     consolidated stockholders'  equity of  the  Company and  its  Subsidiaries,
     determined  on a  consolidated basis  in accordance  with GAAP consistently
     applied; provided that the Company's 8 3/4% Convertible Debentures that are
     then outstanding  shall  be  considered  equity for  the  purposes  of  the
     computation of the Company's Consolidated Net Worth.
 
          'GAAP'   means  generally  accepted   accounting  principles  as  such
     principles are in effect as of the date of the Indenture.
 
                                      S-17
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
          'Material Subsidiary' means any Person that is a Subsidiary if at  the
     end of the most recent fiscal quarter of the Company, the aggregate amount,
     determined  in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, of securities of,
     loans and advances to,  and other investments in,  such Person held by  the
     Company   and  its  other  Subsidiaries   exceeded  10%  of  the  Company's
     Consolidated Net Worth.
 
          'Person'  means  any   individual,  corporation,  partnership,   joint
     venture,    association,   joint-stock   company,   trust,   unincorporated
     organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
 
          'Senior Debt' means, with respect  to any Person, all indebtedness  of
     such  Person, in respect  of money borrowed,  determined in accordance with
     GAAP  consistently  applied,  other  than  indebtedness  as  to  which  the
     instrument  governing such indebtedness provides that such indebtedness is,
     or which is in effect,  subordinated or junior in  right of payment to  any
     other indebtedness of such Person.
 
          'Subsidiary'  means, with respect to  any Person, any corporation more
     than 50% of the voting  stock of which is  owned directly or indirectly  by
     such  Person,  and any  partnership,  association, joint  venture  or other
     entity in which such Person owns more  than 50% of the equity interests  or
     has  the  power to  elect a  majority of  the board  of directors  or other
     governing body.
 
          'Test Period' means, with respect  to any date, the period  consisting
     of   the  most  recent  four  full  fiscal  quarters  for  which  financial
     information is generally available.
 
BOOK-ENTRY SYSTEM
 
     Each of the Debentures Due 2008, the Debentures Due 2016 and the Debentures
Due 2026 initially  will be represented  by one or  more global securities  (the
'Global  Securities') deposited with DTC and registered in the name of a nominee
of DTC. Except as set forth below, the Debentures will be available for purchase
in denominations of $1,000, and  integral multiples thereof, in book-entry  form
only.
 
     Unless  and  until certificated  Debentures  are issued  under  the limited
circumstances described  below, no  beneficial  owner of  a Debenture  shall  be
entitled  to receive a definitive certificate  representing a Debenture. So long
as the Depositary  or its  nominee is  the registered  owner of  all the  Global
Securities,  the  Depositary  or such  nominee,  as  the case  may  be,  will be
considered to be the sole owner or holder of the Debentures for all purposes  of
the Indenture. Unless and until exchanged in whole or in part for the Debentures
represented  thereby, the  Global Securities  may not  be transferred  except in
their entirety by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a  nominee
of  such Depositary to such Depositary or  another nominee of such Depositary or
by the Depositary or  any nominee to  a successor depositary  or any nominee  of
such successor.
 
     So  long as  the Global  Securities represent  the Debentures,  payments of
interest and principal will  be made to  the Depositary or  its nominee, as  the
registered  owner of the Global Securities. Payments to beneficial owners of the
Debentures are expected  to be made  through the Depositary  or its nominee,  as
described  in the Prospectus. None of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent
or the Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the
records relating  to,  or payments  made  on account  of,  beneficial  ownership
interests  in  the  Global Securities  for  the Debentures  or  for maintaining,
supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial interests.
 
     If the  Depositary  is at  any  time  unwilling, unable  or  ineligible  to
continue  as  depositary and  a  successor depositary  is  not appointed  by the
Company within  90  days,  the  Company  will  issue  individual  Debentures  in
definitive   form  in  exchange  for  the  Global  Securities  representing  the
Debentures. In addition, the Company may at any time and in its sole  discretion
determine  not to have the Debentures  represented by Global Securities, and, in
such event, will issue individual Debentures in definitive form in exchange  for
the  Global Securities. In either instance, the Company will issue Debentures in
definitive form equal in aggregate principal amount to the Global Securities, in
such names  and in  such  principal amounts  as  the Depositary  shall  request.
Debentures  so  issued in  definitive form  will be  issued in  denominations of
$1,000 and integral  multiples thereof  and will  be issued  in registered  form
only, without coupons.
 
                                      S-18
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
     DTC  has advised  the Company  and the  Underwriters as  follows: DTC  is a
limited-purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York,
a member of  the Federal  Reserve System,  a 'clearing  corporation' within  the
meaning  of  the  New  York  Uniform Commercial  Code  and  a  'clearing agency'
registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Securities  Exchange
Act  of 1934, as amended. DTC was created to hold securities of its participants
and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions  among
its  participants in  such securities  through electronic  book-entry changes in
accounts of the participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement
of securities certificates.  DTC's participants include  securities brokers  and
dealers   (including  the   Underwriters),  banks,   trust  companies,  clearing
corporations and  certain  other  organizations, some  of  which  (and/or  their
representatives) own DTC. Access to DTC's book-entry system is also available to
others,  such as banks, brokers, dealers  and trust companies that clear through
or maintain  a custodial  relationship with  a participant,  either directly  or
indirectly.
 
     A further description of the Depositary's procedures with respect to Global
Securities is set forth in the accompanying Prospectus under 'Description of the
Debt  Securities  -- Global  Securities'. The  Depositary  has confirmed  to the
Company, the  Underwriters  and the  Trustee  that  it intends  to  follow  such
procedures.
 
            CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
 
NON-U.S. HOLDERS
 
     The  following is  a summary  of certain  United States  Federal income tax
consequences that may be relevant to  a beneficial owner of the Debentures  that
is  not  (i) a  citizen or  resident of  the United  States, (ii)  a corporation
created or organized under the laws of the United States or any State thereof or
the District of Columbia  or (iii) a person  otherwise subject to United  States
Federal  income  taxation  on its  worldwide  income  (any of  the  foregoing, a
'Non-U.S. Holder').  This summary  deals  only with  Non-U.S. Holders  that  are
initial  holders of the Debentures and that  will hold the Debentures as capital
assets. It  does  not address  the  tax considerations  applicable  to  Non-U.S.
Holders  if income or gain in respect of the Debentures is effectively connected
with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States.
 
     Generally, payments of interest  made with respect to  the Debentures to  a
Non-U.S.  Holder  will  not  be  subject  to  United  States  Federal  income or
withholding tax, provided  that (i)  the Non-U.S.  Holder does  not actually  or
constructively own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes
of  stock of  the Company entitled  to vote, (ii)  the Non-U.S. Holder  is not a
controlled foreign corporation for United  States tax purposes that is  directly
or  indirectly  related to  the Company  through stock  ownership and  (iii) the
Non-U.S. Holder complies with applicable certification requirements.
 
     Any capital  gain  realized on  the  sale, exchange,  retirement  or  other
disposition  of a Debenture by  a Non-U.S. Holder will  not be subject to United
States Federal income  or withholding taxes  unless such Non-U.S.  Holder is  an
individual  who is  present in  the United States  for 183  days or  more in the
taxable year of such sale, exchange,  retirement or other disposition and  meets
certain additional requirements.
 
     PURCHASERS OF DEBENTURES SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT
TO  THE POSSIBLE APPLICABILITY OF UNITED  STATES FEDERAL INCOME, WITHHOLDING AND
OTHER TAXES UPON INCOME REALIZED IN RESPECT OF THE NOTES.
 
BACKUP WITHHOLDING AND INFORMATION REPORTING
 
     Any noncorporate holder  of the  Debentures may be  subject to  information
reporting and backup withholding at a rate of 31% on certain amounts paid to the
holder unless such holder provides proof of an applicable exemption (including a
general  exemption  for  Non-U.S. Holders)  or  correct  taxpayer identification
number, and  otherwise  complies  with applicable  requirements  of  the  backup
withholding  rules. Any amount withheld under  the backup withholding rules will
be credited against the holder's federal income tax liability.
 
                                      S-19
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                                  UNDERWRITERS
 
     Subject  to  the  terms  and  conditions  set  forth  in  the  Underwriting
Agreement,  the Company  has agreed  to sell to  each of  the Underwriters named
below, and each  of the  Underwriters has severally  and not  jointly agreed  to
purchase,  the respective amounts of the  Debentures set forth opposite its name
below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  PRINCIPAL AMOUNT    PRINCIPAL AMOUNT    PRINCIPAL AMOUNT
                                                   OF DEBENTURES       OF DEBENTURES       OF DEBENTURES
                     NAME                             DUE 2008            DUE 2016            DUE 2026
- -----------------------------------------------   ----------------    ----------------    ----------------
<S>                                               <C>                 <C>                 <C>
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated..............     $ 33,184,600        $ 30,000,000        $ 80,000,000
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. ......................       33,184,600          30,000,000          80,000,000
Lehman Brothers Inc. ..........................       33,184,600          30,000,000          80,000,000
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. ...................       33,184,600          30,000,000          80,000,000
Salomon Brothers Inc ..........................       33,184,600          30,000,000          80,000,000
                                                  ----------------    ----------------    ----------------
     Total.....................................     $165,923,000        $150,000,000        $400,000,000
                                                  ----------------    ----------------    ----------------
                                                  ----------------    ----------------    ----------------
</TABLE>
 
     The Underwriting Agreement provides that the obligation of the Underwriters
to pay for and accept delivery of  the Debentures is subject to the approval  of
certain  legal matters by  their counsel and to  certain other conditions. Under
the terms and  conditions of  the Underwriting Agreement,  the Underwriters  are
committed to take and pay for all of the Debentures if any are taken.
 
     The  Company  has  been advised  by  the Underwriters  that  they initially
propose to offer the  Debentures in part directly  to purchasers at the  initial
public  offering price set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus Supplement
and in part to  certain securities dealers  at such price  less a concession  of
 .40%  of the principal amount of the  Debentures Due 2008, .50% of the principal
amount of the  Debentures Due  2016 and  .375% of  the principal  amount of  the
Debentures Due 2026. The Underwriters may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a
concession  not to  exceed .25%  of the principal  amount of  the Debentures Due
2008, .25% of the principal  amount of the Debentures Due  2016 and .25% of  the
principal  amount of  the Debentures  Due 2026  to certain  brokers and dealers.
After the  initial offering  of the  Debentures, the  offering price  and  other
selling terms may from time to time be varied by the Underwriters.
 
     Subject to certain exceptions, the Company has agreed with the Underwriters
that,  without the prior  written consent of Morgan  Stanley & Co. Incorporated,
until January 17, 1996, the closing date for the sale of the Debentures  offered
hereby,  it will not, and will not  permit TWE to, directly or indirectly offer,
sell or  contract to  sell, or  announce the  offering of,  any debt  securities
designed  to  be  traded or  distributed  in  the public  or  private securities
markets.
 
     The Underwriting Agreement  provides that  the Company  will indemnify  the
several  Underwriters against  certain liabilities,  including liabilities under
the Securities Act of 1933,  as amended, and will  be required to contribute  to
payments which the Underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof.
 
     From  time  to time  certain Underwriters  have  provided, and  continue to
provide,  investment  banking  services  to  the  Company  for  which  customary
compensation has been and will be received.
 
                                 LEGAL OPINIONS
 
     Certain  legal  matters will  be passed  upon for  the Company  by Cravath,
Swaine & Moore,  New York,  New York,  and for  the Underwriters  by Shearman  &
Sterling, New York, New York.
 
                                      S-20



<PAGE>
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS
                                TIME WARNER INC.
                                Debt Securities
                          Convertible Debt Securities
                   Debt Securities with Common Stock Warrants
 
     Time Warner Inc. (the 'Company') may offer from time to time its (i) notes,
debentures  or other evidences of indebtedness ('Debt Securities'), which may be
(ii) convertible into shares of the Company's Common Stock, par value $1.00  per
share  (the 'Common Stock'), or other securities or other property ('Convertible
Debt Securities')  or  (iii)  may  be accompanied  by  warrants  ('Common  Stock
Warrants')  to  purchase  Common  Stock  ('Debt  Securities  with  Common  Stock
Warrants'), having an aggregate initial public offering price of  $1,800,581,550
(including the U.S. dollar equivalent of securities for which the initial public
offering  price is  denominated in one  or more foreign  currencies or composite
currencies). The Debt  Securities (including any  Convertible Debt  Securities),
Common Stock Warrants, and the Common Stock underlying any such Convertible Debt
Securities  or  Debt Securities  with Common  Stock Warrants  (collectively, the
'Offered Securities') may be offered in one or more series in amounts, at prices
and on terms determined  at the time of  sale and set forth  in a supplement  to
this Prospectus (a 'Prospectus Supplement').
 
     Unless  otherwise specified  in an accompanying  Prospectus Supplement, the
Debt Securities will be senior securities  of the Company, ranking equally  with
all other unsubordinated and unsecured indebtedness of the Company.
 
     The  net  proceeds from  the sale  of  Offered Securities  will be  used to
repurchase, redeem  or  otherwise  repay indebtedness  of  the  Company,  unless
otherwise set forth in the Prospectus Supplement. See 'Use of Proceeds'.
 
     The  specific  terms of  the Offered  Securities in  respect of  which this
Prospectus is being delivered  will be set forth  in an accompanying  Prospectus
Supplement, including, where applicable, (i) in the case of Debt Securities, the
specific   designation,  aggregate  principal  amount,  currency,  denomination,
maturity (which may be  fixed or extendible), priority,  interest rate or  rates
(or manner of calculation thereof), if any, time of payment of interest, if any,
terms for any redemption or repayment at the option of the Company or the holder
or  for  any  sinking  fund  payments,  terms  for  any  conversion  or exchange
(including the terms  relating to  the adjustment thereof),  the initial  public
offering price and any other specific terms of such Debt Securities, and (ii) in
the  case of Common Stock  Warrants included in any  Debt Securities with Common
Stock Warrants, the duration, offering price, exercise price, detachability  and
any other specific terms thereof.
 
     The  Prospectus Supplement will also contain information, where applicable,
about certain United States Federal  income tax considerations relating to,  and
any  listing on a securities exchange of,  the Offered Securities covered by the
Prospectus Supplement.
 
     The Debt  Securities  and Common  Stock  Warrants  may be  issued  only  in
registered form, including in the form of one or more global securities ('Global
Securities'), unless otherwise set forth in the Prospectus Supplement.
 
                            ------------------------
 
THESE  SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED  OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
  EXCHANGE COMMISSION  OR  ANY  STATE SECURITIES  COMMISSION  NOR  HAS  THE
     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION
      PASSED  UPON  THE ACCURACY  OR  ADEQUACY OF  THIS  PROSPECTUS. ANY
                  REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
                            ------------------------
 
     The Offered Securities may be  offered directly, through agents  designated
from  time to  time or  through dealers  or underwriters.  If any  agents of the
Company or  any dealers  or underwriters  are involved  in the  offering of  the
Offered  Securities in respect of which  this Prospectus is being delivered, the
names of such agents, dealers or underwriters and any applicable commissions  or
discounts  will be set forth  in the Prospectus Supplement.  The net proceeds to
the Company from such sale will also be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement.
 
                            ------------------------
 
                  THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS JUNE 7, 1995.



<PAGE>
<PAGE>
     IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING OF CERTAIN SECURITIES, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY
OVER-ALLOT  OR EFFECT TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE  OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE
OF THE OFFERED SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY  OR OTHER SECURITIES OF THE COMPANY  AT
LEVELS  ABOVE  THOSE WHICH  MIGHT  OTHERWISE PREVAIL  IN  THE OPEN  MARKET. SUCH
STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.
 
                            ------------------------
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
     The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the  Securities
Exchange  Act  of 1934,  as  amended (the  'Exchange  Act'), and,  in accordance
therewith, files  reports,  proxy  statements and  other  information  with  the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the 'Commission'). Reports, proxy statements
and  other information filed by the Company  with the Commission pursuant to the
informational requirements of the  Exchange Act may be  inspected and copied  at
the  public  reference  facilities maintained  by  the Commission  at  450 Fifth
Street, N.W.,  Room  1024,  Washington,  D.C. 20549,  and  at  the  Commission's
regional  offices located at Seven World Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York, New
York 10048;  and Northwestern  Atrium  Center, 500  West Madison  Street  (Suite
1400), Chicago, Illinois 60661; and copies of such material may be obtained from
the  Public  Reference Section  of the  Commission,  Washington, D.C.  20549, at
prescribed rates. Such reports, proxy statements and other information may  also
be  inspected at the offices  of the New York  Stock Exchange, Inc. ('NYSE'), 20
Broad Street, New York,  New York, and the  Pacific Stock Exchange ('PSE'),  301
Pine  Street, San Francisco, California,  on which one or  more of the Company's
securities are listed.
 
     This Prospectus constitutes a part of a Registration Statement filed by the
Company with the Commission  under the Securities Act  of 1933, as amended  (the
'Securities Act'). This Prospectus omits certain of the information contained in
the  Registration Statement in accordance with  the rules and regulations of the
Commission. Reference is hereby made  to the Registration Statement and  related
exhibits  for further  information with respect  to the Company  and the Offered
Securities.  Statements  contained  herein  concerning  the  provisions  of  any
document  are not necessarily complete and,  in each instance, reference is made
to the copy of such document filed  as an exhibit to the Registration  Statement
or  otherwise filed with the Commission. Each such statement is qualified in its
entirety by such reference.
 
                     INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
 
     The Company incorporates herein by reference the following documents  filed
with the Commission (File No. 1-8637) pursuant to the Exchange Act:
 
          (a) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
     December 31, 1994.
 
          (b)  The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
     March 31, 1995.
 
          (c) The Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K dated January 26,  1995,
     February 6, 1995, April 1, 1995 and May 30, 1995.
 
          (d)  The description of the Company's Common Stock contained in Item 4
     of  the  Company's  Registration  Statement  on  Form  8B  filed  with  the
     Commission  on December 8, 1983, pursuant  to Section 12(b) of the Exchange
     Act, as amended from time to time.
 
          (e) The  description  of the  rights  issued to  stockholders  of  the
     Company  pursuant to  the Rights Agreement,  dated as of  January 20, 1994,
     between the Company and Chemical Bank, as Rights Agent, contained in Item 1
     of the  Company's  Registration  Statement  on  Form  8-A  filed  with  the
     Commission on January 24, 1994.
 
     All  documents and  reports subsequently filed  by the  Company pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of  the Exchange Act after the date of  this
Prospectus  and  prior  to  the  termination  of  the  offering  of  the Offered
Securities shall be deemed to  be incorporated herein by  reference and to be  a
part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.
 
                                       2
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
     Any  statement contained herein or in  a document incorporated or deemed to
be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for purposes of this Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement to the extent  that
a  statement contained herein  or in any other  subsequently filed document that
also is  or  is  deemed to  be  incorporated  by reference  herein  modifies  or
supersedes  such statement. Any  such statement so  modified or superseded shall
not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement.
 
     The Company  will furnish  without  charge to  each person,  including  any
beneficial  owner,  to  whom  this Prospectus  and  the  accompanying Prospectus
Supplement are delivered,  upon the written  or oral request  of such person,  a
copy  of any or all  the documents incorporated herein  by reference, other than
exhibits to such documents unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by
reference in such  documents, and  any other  documents specifically  identified
herein  as incorporated  by reference into  the Registration  Statement to which
this Prospectus  relates  or  into  such other  documents.  Requests  should  be
addressed to: Shareholder Relations, Time Warner Inc., 75 Rockefeller Plaza, New
York, New York 10019; telephone: (212) 484-6971.
 
                                TIME WARNER INC.
 
     The Company was incorporated in the State of Delaware in August 1983 and is
the  successor to a New York corporation  that was originally organized in 1922.
The Company changed its name from Time Incorporated following its acquisition of
59.3% of the common  stock of Warner Communications  Inc. ('WCI') in July  1989.
WCI  became a wholly  owned subsidiary of  the Company in  January 1990 upon the
completion of the merger of WCI and a subsidiary of the Company. As used in this
Prospectus,  the  term  the  'Company'  refers  to  Time  Warner  Inc.  and  its
subsidiaries   and  divisions,  and  includes,   unless  the  context  otherwise
indicates, Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P. ('TWE').
 
     The Company is the  largest media and entertainment  company in the  world.
Its  businesses are carried on in  three principal groups: Publishing, Music and
Entertainment. The Publishing group consists principally of the publication  and
distribution of magazines and books; the Music group consists principally of the
production   and  distribution   of  recorded   music  and   the  ownership  and
administration  of  music  copyrights;  and  the  Entertainment  group  consists
principally of the production and distribution of motion pictures and television
programming,  the distribution of videocassettes, the ownership and operation of
retail stores and theme parks, the production and distribution of pay television
and cable  programming, and  the operation  of cable  television systems.  These
businesses are conducted throughout the world through numerous wholly owned, and
in certain cases less than wholly owned, subsidiaries and affiliates.
 
     TWE  was formed  as a  Delaware limited  partnership in  1992 and  owns and
operates substantially all  of the Entertainment  group businesses, and  certain
other  businesses, previously owned and operated  by the Company. Certain wholly
owned  subsidiaries  of  the  Company  (the  'Time  Warner  General   Partners')
collectively  own 63.27% pro rata priority capital and residual equity interests
in TWE and wholly owned subsidiaries of ITOCHU Corporation, Toshiba  Corporation
and  U S West, Inc. own pro  rata priority capital and residual equity interests
in TWE of 5.61%,  5.61% and 25.51%, respectively.  In addition, the Time  Warner
General  Partners own  priority capital interests  senior and junior  to the pro
rata priority capital interests.
 
     The Company  is a  holding  company and  its  assets consist  primarily  of
investments  in its subsidiaries  and TWE. The Company's  ability to service its
indebtedness, including the  Debt Securities,  is dependent  primarily upon  the
earnings  of its subsidiaries and  TWE and the distribution  or other payment of
such earnings to the Company. See 'Holding Company Structure'.
 
     The Company's principal  executive offices  are located  at 75  Rockefeller
Plaza, New York, New York 10019, and its telephone number is (212) 484-8000.
 
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
 
     As  summarized  below and  more fully  described  in the  Company's Current
Report on Form 8-K dated May 30, 1995, the Company has recently entered into  or
consummated  a number  of transactions to  acquire, operate or  dispose of cable
television   systems   and    certain   other    assets.   These    transactions
 
                                       3
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
will,  among  other  things,  result  in the  acquisition  of  cable  systems by
subsidiaries of the Company serving approximately 2.2 million subscribers and  a
50%  interest  in  Paragon  Communications  ('Paragon'),  which  serves  967,000
subscribers (the other 50% interest in Paragon is already owned by TWE).
 
     The  Company  (i)  closed  on  May  2,  1995  its  acquisition  of   Summit
Communications  Group,  Inc.  ('Summit'); (ii)  agreed  on January  26,  1995 to
acquire KBLCOM  Incorporated  ('KBLCOM'),  a subsidiary  of  Houston  Industries
Incorporated;  and  (iii)  agreed on  February  6, 1995  to  acquire Cablevision
Industries  Corporation  ('CVI')  and   related  companies  (collectively,   the
'Acquisitions').  To  acquire  Summit,  the  Company  issued  approximately 1.55
million shares of Common Stock, and  approximately 3.26 million shares of a  new
convertible preferred stock ('Series C Preferred Stock') and assumed or incurred
$146  million of  indebtedness. To  acquire KBLCOM,  the Company  will issue one
million shares  of Common  Stock and  11  million shares  of a  new  convertible
preferred  stock ('Series D Preferred Stock')  and assume or incur approximately
$1.3 billion of indebtedness, including $111 million of the Company's  allocable
share  of Paragon's indebtedness. To acquire  CVI and its related companies, the
Company will issue 2.5 million shares of Common Stock and 6.5 million shares  of
new convertible preferred stock (3.25 million shares of Series E Preferred Stock
and  3.25  million shares  of  Series F  Preferred  Stock) and  assume  or incur
approximately $2 billion of debt of CVI and its related companies.
 
     On April 1, 1995 TWE and Advance/Newhouse Partnership ('Advance/Newhouse'),
a New York general partnership  between Newhouse Broadcasting Corporation and  a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Advance Publications, Inc., formed a New York general
partnership known as Time Warner Entertainment-Advance/Newhouse Partnership (the
'TWE-A/N  Partnership'), in which  TWE owns a two-thirds  equity interest and is
the managing partner.  The TWE-A/N  Partnership was  formed to  own and  operate
cable  television  systems  (or  interests  therein)  serving  approximately 4.5
million subscribers  and  certain  foreign  cable  investments  and  programming
investments (the 'TWE-A/N Transaction').
 
     TWE  (i)  agreed  on April  17,  1995,  subject to  certain  conditions, to
recapitalize Six Flags Entertainment Corporation ('Six Flags'), sell 51% of  its
interest  therein and grant certain licenses to  Six Flags and (ii) announced on
May 18, 1995 the sale of 15 of its unclustered cable television systems  serving
approximately 144,000 subscribers (the 'Asset Sale Transactions').
 
     The  Company and TWE  are currently in  negotiations with an administrative
agent for a bank syndicate regarding a five-year revolving credit facility  (the
'New  Credit Agreement') expected to be executed in July 1995, pursuant to which
TWE, the TWE-A/N Partnership and a  wholly owned subsidiary of the Company  will
be  borrowers. The New  Credit Agreement will enable  such entities to refinance
certain indebtedness assumed from  the companies acquired or  to be acquired  in
the  Acquisitions, to refinance existing indebtedness  of TWE and to finance the
ongoing working capital, capital expenditure  and other corporate needs of  each
borrower (the '1995 Debt Refinancing').
 
     For  a discussion of  the Acquisitions, the  TWE-A/N Transaction, the Asset
Sale Transactions  and  the 1995  Debt  Refinancing  reference is  made  to  the
Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 30, 1995.
 
                       RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
 
     The  ratio of earnings to fixed charges  for the Company is set forth below
for the periods indicated.  For periods in which  earnings before fixed  charges
were  insufficient to cover fixed charges, the amount of coverage deficiency (in
millions), instead of the ratio, is disclosed. The historical ratios of earnings
to fixed charges for all periods  after 1992 reflect the deconsolidation of  the
Entertainment  Group, principally TWE, effective January 1, 1993. The historical
ratios of earnings to fixed charges for 1992 and periods prior to such date have
not been  changed;  however, a  ratio  of earnings  to  fixed charges  for  1992
retroactively  reflecting  the  deconsolidation  is  presented  as supplementary
information under  the  column  heading  'restated'  to  facilitate  comparative
analysis.
 
     The  historical ratio  of earnings to  fixed charges for  1993 reflects the
issuance of $6.1 billion of long-term debt  and the use of $500 million of  cash
and equivalents in 1993 for the exchange or redemption of preferred stock having
an  aggregate liquidation  preference of $6.4  billion. The  historical ratio of
 
                                       4
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
earnings to fixed charges  for 1992 reflects the  capitalization of TWE on  June
30,  1992 and associated refinancings, and the acquisition of the 18.7% minority
interest in American Television  and Communications Corporation  as of June  30,
1992, using the purchase method of accounting for business combinations.
 
     The  pro forma coverage  deficiencies for the three  months ended March 31,
1995 and  the year  ended December  31, 1994  give effect  to the  Acquisitions,
TWE-A/N  Transaction, 1995  Debt Refinancing and  Asset Sale  Transactions as if
such transactions had occurred at the beginning of such periods. Such pro  forma
information  should  be  read in  conjunction  with the  pro  forma consolidated
condensed financial statements contained in the Company's Current Report on Form
8-K dated May  30, 1995  and incorporated herein  by reference.  Such pro  forma
amounts  are presented for  informational purposes only  and are not necessarily
indicative of the actual ratio or  coverage deficiency that would have  occurred
if  such transactions had  been consummated as  of the dates  indicated, nor are
they necessarily indicative of future results.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   THREE MONTHS ENDED
       MARCH 31,                                                 YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
- ------------------------     -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRO FORMA     HISTORICAL     PRO FORMA     HISTORICAL     HISTORICAL     RESTATED     HISTORICAL     HISTORICAL     HISTORICAL
- ---------     ----------     ---------     ----------     ----------     --------     ----------     ----------     ----------
  1995           1995          1994           1994           1993          1992          1992           1991           1990
- ---------     ----------     ---------     ----------     ----------     --------     ----------     ----------     ----------
<S>           <C>            <C>           <C>            <C>            <C>          <C>            <C>            <C>
  $ (18)         1.0x          $(73)          1.1x           1.1x          1.4x          1.4x           1.1x          $(101)
</TABLE>
 
     For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges,  earnings
were   calculated  by   adding  pretax  income,   interest  expense,  previously
capitalized interest amortized to expense,  the portion of rents  representative
of  an interest factor, the Company's proportionate  share of such items for its
partially-owned subsidiaries and 50%-owned  companies, and undistributed  losses
of  less-than-50%-owned companies.  Fixed charges  consist of  interest expense,
interest capitalized, the portion of rents representative of an interest  factor
and  the Company's  proportionate share  of such  items for  its partially-owned
subsidiaries and 50%-owned companies. Pro forma and historical fixed charges for
the three months  ended March  31, 1995  and the  year ended  December 31,  1994
include  noncash interest expense of $57 million and $219 million, respectively,
relating to the Company's Redeemable Reset  Notes due 2002 and its Liquid  Yield
Option Notes due 2012 and 2013.
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
     Except  as  otherwise  set  forth in  the  Prospectus  Supplement,  the net
proceeds to the  Company from the  sale of  Offered Securities will  be used  to
repurchase,  redeem or otherwise  repay indebtedness of  the Company. Additional
information on the use of net proceeds  from the sale of any particular  Offered
Securities  will  be set  forth in  the Prospectus  Supplement relating  to such
Offered Securities.
 
                       DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES
 
GENERAL
 
     The following description of  the terms of the  Debt Securities sets  forth
certain  general  terms  and provisions  of  the  Debt Securities  to  which any
Prospectus Supplement may relate.  The particular terms  of any Debt  Securities
and  the extent, if any, to which such general provisions will not apply to such
Debt Securities will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to  such
Debt Securities.
 
     The  Debt Securities will  be issued from  time to time  in series under an
Indenture dated as of  January 15, 1993 (the  'Indenture'), between the  Company
and  Chemical Bank (the  'Trustee'), as Trustee. The  statements set forth below
are brief  summaries of  certain provisions  contained in  the Indenture,  which
summaries  do not purport to be complete  and are qualified in their entirety by
reference to the Indenture, a  copy of which is  an exhibit to the  Registration
Statement   of  which  this  Prospectus  is  a  part.  Numerical  references  in
parentheses below are to articles or sections of the Indenture. Wherever defined
terms are  used but  not defined  herein,  such terms  shall have  the  meanings
assigned  to  them in  the  Indenture, it  being  intended that  such referenced
articles and  sections  of  the  Indenture  and  such  defined  terms  shall  be
incorporated herein by reference.
 
                                       5
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
     The  Indenture does not  limit the amount  of Debt Securities  which may be
issued thereunder  and  Debt Securities  may  be  issued thereunder  up  to  the
aggregate  principal amount  which may  be authorized from  time to  time by the
Company. Any such limit applicable to  a particular series will be specified  in
the Prospectus Supplement relating to that series.
 
     Reference  is made to the Prospectus  Supplement for the following terms of
each series of  Debt Securities  in respect to  which this  Prospectus is  being
delivered:  (i) the designation,  date, aggregate principal  amount, currency or
currency unit of payment and  authorized denominations of such Debt  Securities;
(ii)  initial public offering price or prices of the Convertible Debt Securities
or Debt Securities with Common Stock  Warrants and any discounts or  commissions
paid  to underwriters, dealers or agents in connection therewith; (iii) the date
or dates  on which  such Debt  Securities will  mature (which  may be  fixed  or
extendible);  (iv) the rate or rates (or manner of calculation thereof), if any,
per annum at which such  Debt Securities will bear  interest; (v) the dates,  if
any,  on which such interest  will be payable; (vi) the  terms, if any, on which
such Debt Securities  may be  converted into or  exchanged for  Common Stock  or
other  securities or  property, any  specific terms  relating to  the adjustment
thereof and the period during which such Debt Securities may be so converted  or
exchanged;  (vii) the terms  of any mandatory  or optional redemption (including
any sinking,  purchase or  analogous fund)  and any  purchase at  the option  of
holders  (including whether any such purchase may  be paid in cash, Common Stock
or other securities or property); (viii) whether such Debt Securities are to  be
issued  in  the  form of  Global  Securities and,  if  so, the  identity  of the
Depository with respect to such Global  Securities; and (ix) any other  specific
terms.
 
     Unless  otherwise  set  forth  in the  Prospectus  Supplement,  interest on
outstanding Debt Securities will be paid to holders of record on the date  which
is  15 days  prior to  the date such  interest is  to be  paid. Unless otherwise
specified in the Prospectus Supplement, Debt Securities will be issued in  fully
registered  form  only and  in denominations  of  $1,000 and  integral multiples
thereof. Unless otherwise specified in the Prospectus Supplement, the  principal
amount  of the Debt Securities will be  payable at the corporate trust office of
the Trustee in  New York, New  York. The  Debt Securities may  be presented  for
transfer or exchange at such office unless otherwise specified in the Prospectus
Supplement,  subject to the  limitations provided in  the Indenture, without any
service charge, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover
any tax or other governmental charges payable in connection therewith.  (Section
305)
 
RANKING
 
     Unless  otherwise  specified in  a Prospectus  Supplement for  a particular
series of  Debt  Securities,  all  series of  Debt  Securities  will  be  senior
indebtedness  of the  Company and will  be direct, unsecured  obligations of the
Company, ranking  on  a  parity  with all  other  unsecured  and  unsubordinated
indebtedness  of the  Company. The  Company is  a holding  company and  the Debt
Securities  will  be  effectively  subordinated  to  all  existing  and   future
liabilities, including indebtedness, of the Company's subsidiaries. See 'Holding
Company Structure'.
 
COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
 
     LIMITATION  ON  MERGER,  CONSOLIDATION  AND CERTAIN  SALES  OF  ASSETS. The
Indenture provides that the Company will not merge or consolidate with or  into,
or  convey or transfer its property substantially  as an entirety to, any person
unless (a) the successor is organized and existing under the laws of the  United
States  or any State or the District  of Columbia, (b) the successor assumes the
Company's obligations under the Indenture  and the Debt Securities issued  under
the  Indenture on the same terms and conditions and (c) immediately after giving
effect to such transaction,  there is no default  under the Indenture.  (Section
801)
 
     Any  additional covenants pertaining to a series of Debt Securities will be
set forth in a Prospectus Supplement relating to such series of Debt Securities.
Other than as may be specified in  a Prospectus Supplement relating to a  series
of  Debt Securities, the Indenture as it pertains to Convertible Debt Securities
or Debt Securities with Common Stock Warrants does not contain any covenants  or
other
 
                                       6
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
provisions  designed to afford holders of  the Debt Securities protection in the
event of  a  recapitalization  or highly  leveraged  transaction  involving  the
Company.
 
DEFEASANCE
 
     The  Indenture  provides  that the  Company,  at  its option,  (a)  will be
Discharged from  any  and all  obligations  in respect  of  any series  of  Debt
Securities (except in each case for certain obligations to register the transfer
or  exchange  of  Debt  Securities,  replace  stolen,  lost  or  mutilated  Debt
Securities, maintain paying agencies  and hold moneys for  payment in trust)  or
(b)  need  not comply  with the  covenant described  above under  'Limitation on
Merger, Consolidation and  Certain Sales  of Assets' and  any other  restrictive
covenant  described in a  Prospectus Supplement relating to  such series of Debt
Securities, and certain Events of Default  (other than those arising out of  the
failure  to pay  interest or  principal on the  Debt Securities  of a particular
series and certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency and reorganization) will  no
longer  constitute  Events  of  Default  with respect  to  such  series  of Debt
Securities, in each case if the Company deposits with the applicable Trustee, in
trust, money or the equivalent in securities of the government which issued  the
currency  in which  the Debt Securities  are denominated  or government agencies
backed by  the  full faith  and  credit of  such  government, or  a  combination
thereof,  which through the payment of interest thereon and principal thereof in
accordance with their terms  will provide money in  an amount sufficient to  pay
all  the  principal  (including any  mandatory  sinking fund  payments)  of, and
interest on, such series on the dates  such payments are due in accordance  with
the  terms of such series. To exercise any such option, the Company is required,
among other things,  to deliver  to the  Trustee an  opinion of  counsel to  the
effect  that (i) the deposit and related  defeasance would not cause the holders
of such series to recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes
and, in the case of a Discharge pursuant to clause (a), accompanied by a  ruling
to  such effect received from or published by the United States Internal Revenue
Service and  (ii) the  creation of  the defeasance  trust will  not violate  the
Investment  Company Act of 1940. In addition, the Company is required to deliver
to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate  stating that such deposit was not  made
by the Company with the intent of preferring the holders over other creditors of
the  Company or with the intent  of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding
creditors of the Company or others. (Article 4)
 
EVENTS OF DEFAULT, NOTICE AND WAIVER
 
     The Indenture provides that, if an Event of Default specified therein  with
respect  to any series of Debt  Securities issued thereunder shall have happened
and be  continuing, either  the Trustee  thereunder  or the  holders of  25%  in
aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of such series (or
25%  in aggregate principal amount of  all outstanding Debt Securities under the
Indenture, in the case of certain Events of Default affecting all series of Debt
Securities under  the Indenture)  may  declare the  principal  of all  the  Debt
Securities of such series to be due and payable. (Section 502)
 
     Events  of Default in respect of any series are defined in the Indenture as
being: (i)  default for  30 days  in payment  of any  interest installment  with
respect  to such series; (ii) default in payment of principal of, or premium, if
any, on,  or  any  sinking fund  or  analogous  payment with  respect  to,  Debt
Securities  of such series when due at  their stated maturity, by declaration or
acceleration, when called for redemption or otherwise; (iii) default for 90 days
after notice to the Company  by the Trustee thereunder or  by holders of 25%  in
aggregate  principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of such series in
the performance  of  any  covenant  in  such  Indenture  with  respect  to  Debt
Securities  of such series; (iv) failure to pay when due, upon final maturity or
upon acceleration, the principal amount  of any indebtedness for money  borrowed
of the Company in excess of $50 million, if such indebtedness is not discharged,
or  such acceleration  annulled, within  60 days  after written  notice; and (v)
certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency and reorganization with respect to  the
Company or any subsidiary which is organized under the laws of the United States
or  any political subdivision thereof in  which the Company's loans, advances or
other investments in such  subsidiary exceed 10%  of the Company's  consolidated
net worth. (Section 501 and Form of the Senior Security)
 
                                       7
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
     Any  additions, deletions or  other changes to the  Events of Default which
will be applicable  to a  series of  Debt Securities  will be  described in  the
Prospectus Supplement relating to such series of Debt Securities.
 
     The  Indenture provides  that the Trustee  thereunder will,  within 90 days
after the occurrence of  a default with  respect to the  Debt Securities of  any
series,  give to the holders of the Debt Securities of such series notice of all
uncured and unwaived defaults known to it; provided that, except in the case  of
default in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on
any  of  the Debt  Securities of  such  series, the  Trustee thereunder  will be
protected in withholding  such notice if  it in good  faith determines that  the
withholding  of  such notice  is in  the interests  of the  holders of  the Debt
Securities of such series. The term 'default' for the purpose of this  provision
means the happening of any of the Events of Default specified above, except that
any grace period or notice requirement is eliminated. (Section 602)
 
     The  Indenture contains  provisions entitling  the Trustee,  subject to the
duty of the Trustee during an Event of Default to act with the required standard
of care,  to  be  indemnified by  the  holders  of the  Debt  Securities  before
proceeding  to exercise any right or power under the Indenture at the request of
holders of the Debt Securities. (Section 603)
 
     The Indenture  provides  that  the  holders  of  a  majority  in  aggregate
principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of any series may direct the
time,  method and place of conducting  proceedings for remedies available to the
Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee in respect  of
such series. (Section 512)
 
     The  Indenture includes a covenant that the Company will file annually with
the Trustee a certificate of no  default or specifying any default that  exists.
(Section 1004)
 
     In  certain cases,  the holders  of a majority  in principal  amount of the
outstanding Debt Securities of any  series may on behalf  of the holders of  all
Debt  Securities of such series waive any  past default or Event of Default with
respect to  the  Debt Securities  of  such  series or  compliance  with  certain
provisions  of  the  Indenture,  except,  among  other  things,  a  default  not
theretofore cured  in  payment of  the  principal of,  or  premium, if  any,  or
interest,  if any, on any  of the Debt Securities  of such series. (Sections 513
and 1009)
 
MODIFICATION OF THE INDENTURE
 
     The Company and the Trustee may, without the consent of the holders of  the
Debt  Securities, enter into indentures supplemental to the Indenture for, among
others, one or more of the following purposes: (i) to evidence the succession of
another Person  to the  Company, and  the assumption  by such  successor of  the
Company's obligations under the Indenture and the Securities of any series; (ii)
to add covenants of the Company, or surrender any rights of the Company, for the
benefit  of the holders  of Securities of any  or all series;  (iii) to cure any
ambiguity, or correct any inconsistency in  the Indenture; (iv) to evidence  and
provide  for the acceptance of any successor Trustee with respect to one or more
series  of  Securities  or  to  facilitate  the  administration  of  the  trusts
thereunder  by one  or more  trustees in accordance  with the  Indenture; (v) to
establish the form or terms of any series of securities; and (vi) to provide any
additional Events of Default. (Section 901)
 
     The Indenture contains  provisions permitting the  Company and the  Trustee
thereunder, with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of
the  outstanding  Debt Securities  of  each series  to  be affected,  to execute
supplemental indentures adding any provisions to or changing or eliminating  any
of the provisions of the Indenture or modifying the rights of the holders of the
Debt  Securities of such series to be affected, except that no such supplemental
indenture may, without the consent of  the holders of affected Debt  Securities,
among  other things, change the fixed maturity of any Debt Securities, or reduce
the principal amount thereof, or reduce the  rate or extend the time of  payment
of  interest  thereon, or  reduce the  number of  shares of  Common Stock  to be
delivered by  the  Company  in  respect of  a  conversion  of  Convertible  Debt
Securities  or reduce the aforesaid percentage  of Debt Securities of any series
the consent  of the  holders of  which  is required  for any  such  supplemental
indenture. (Section 902)
 
                                       8
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
THE TRUSTEE
 
     Chemical  Bank  is  the  Trustee  under the  Indenture.  The  Trustee  is a
depository for  funds  and performs  other  services for,  and  transacts  other
banking  business with, the Company and its subsidiaries in the normal course of
business.
 
GOVERNING LAW
 
     The Indenture will be  governed by, and construed  in accordance with,  the
laws of the State of New York.
 
                      DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK WARRANTS
 
     The  Company may issue Common  Stock Warrants as part  of a unit comprising
Debt  Securities  with  Common  Stock   Warrants  that  may  be  detachable   or
nondetachable  from such Debt  Securities. Each series  of Common Stock Warrants
will be issued under a separate warrant agreement (a 'Warrant Agreement') to  be
entered  into between the Company and a  bank or trust company, as warrant agent
(the 'Warrant Agent'), all as set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating to
the particular issue of Common Stock Warrants. The Warrant Agent will act solely
as an agent for the Company in connection with the Warrant Certificates and will
not assume any obligation  or relationship of  agency or trust  for or with  any
holders of Warrant Certificates or beneficial owners of Common Stock Warrants. A
copy of the form of Warrant Agreement, including the form of Warrant Certificate
representing  the  Common  Stock  Warrants,  is  filed  as  an  exhibit  to  the
Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part. The following summary
of certain  provisions of  the Common  Stock  Warrants does  not purport  to  be
complete  and is subject to,  and is qualified in  its entirety by reference to,
all of the provisions of the Warrant Agreement.
 
     Reference is made to the  Prospectus Supplement relating to the  particular
issue of Debt Securities with Common Stock Warrants for the terms of such Common
Stock  Warrants, including, where applicable: (i) the number of shares of Common
Stock purchasable upon the exercise of such Common Stock Warrants, the price  at
which  such number of shares of Common Stock may be purchased upon such exercise
(or the  method by  which  it can  be determined)  and  any provisions  for  the
adjustment of such price and number of shares; (ii) the period or periods during
which  or  the  date  or dates  on  which  the Common  Stock  Warrants  shall be
exercisable; (iii) United States Federal  income tax consequences applicable  to
such  Common  Stock Warrants;  and (iv)  any  other terms  of such  Common Stock
Warrants. Common Stock Warrants will be  issued in registered form only,  unless
otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
 
     Each  Common Stock Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase such
number of shares of Common  Stock at such exercise price  as shall be set  forth
in,  or calculable as described in,  the applicable Prospectus Supplement, which
exercise price  may be  subject to  adjustment upon  the occurrence  of  certain
events  as set forth in such Prospectus  Supplement. After the close of business
on the  expiration date  specified in  such Prospectus  Supplement,  unexercised
Common  Stock Warrants  will become  void. The  place or  places where,  and the
manner in which, Common  Stock Warrants may be  exercised shall be specified  in
the  Prospectus Supplement relating to such  Common Stock Warrants. Prior to the
exercise of any  Common Stock Warrants,  holders of such  Common Stock  Warrants
will  not have any of the rights of holders of Common Stock, including the right
to receive payments of dividends, if  any, on the Common Stock purchasable  upon
such exercise or to exercise any applicable right to vote.
 
                          DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK
 
     The  following  general summary  of the  Common Stock  is qualified  in its
entirety by reference to the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as
amended from time  to time  (the 'Certificate  of Incorporation'),  which is  an
exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part.
 
     The  Company is  authorized by  the Certificate  of Incorporation  to issue
750,000,000 shares of Common Stock and 250,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock. On
April 30, 1995, 379,863,970 shares of Common Stock (excluding approximately 45.7
million shares of Common Stock held as treasury shares
 
                                       9
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
by the Company, as to which approximately 43.7 million were held by wholly owned
subsidiaries of the Company) were  issued and outstanding and approximately  148
million  shares were  reserved for issuance  upon exercise  of outstanding stock
options and warrants and conversion of outstanding convertible securities. Also,
as of April 30, 1995, 962,068 shares  of the Company's Series B Preferred  Stock
were  issued and outstanding. Upon consummation of the Acquisitions, the Company
will have  outstanding approximately  5.1 million  additional shares  of  Common
Stock  and  approximately 3.3  million shares  of Series  C Preferred  Stock, 11
million shares of  Series D  Preferred Stock, 3.25  million shares  of Series  E
Preferred  Stock and 3.25 million shares of Series F Preferred Stock. The Series
C, D, E,  and F  Preferred Stock  to be  outstanding after  consummation of  the
Acquisitions  will  be  convertible  in the  aggregate  into  approximately 43.2
million shares  of Common  Stock. Each  such  series of  Preferred Stock  has  a
liquidation value of $100 per share and will receive, for a period of five years
with  respect to the  Series C and  E Preferred Stock  and for a  period of four
years with respect to the Series D and F Preferred Stock, an annual dividend per
share equal to the greater of $3.75 and an amount equal to the dividends paid on
the Common Stock into which such share of Preferred Stock may be converted.  The
Series  C, D, E and F  Preferred Stock will be entitled  to vote with the Common
Stock on matters submitted to a vote of stockholders and will have two votes per
share in any such matter. For a discussion of the series C, D, E and F Preferred
Stock reference is made to  the Company's Current Report  on Form 8-K dated  May
30, 1995.
 
     The  holders of the Common Stock are entitled to receive dividends when, as
and if declared by the  Board of Directors of the  Company out of funds  legally
available  therefor, subject to  the rights of  any preferred stock  at the time
outstanding.
 
     The holders of the Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each share  on
all  matters voted  on by  stockholders, including  elections of  directors. The
holders of  the Common  Stock do  not have  any cumulative  voting,  conversion,
redemption  or preemptive  rights. In the  event of  dissolution, liquidation or
winding up of the Company, holders of the Common Stock will be entitled to share
ratably in any  assets remaining  after the satisfaction  in full  of the  prior
rights  of creditors, including  holders of the  Company's indebtedness, and the
aggregate liquidation preference of any preferred stock then outstanding.
 
     Pursuant to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, provided that  full
dividends  on all  outstanding shares of  any series of  the Company's preferred
stock have been  paid, outstanding  shares of Common  Stock may  be redeemed  by
action  of the Company's Board  of Directors to the  extent necessary to prevent
the loss  of any  governmental license  or franchise,  the holding  of which  is
conditioned upon stockholders possessing prescribed qualifications.
 
     The  Common Stock  is listed  on the New  York Stock  Exchange, the Pacific
Stock Exchange and the  International Stock Exchange of  the United Kingdom  and
the  Republic of Ireland, Ltd. Chemical Bank is the transfer agent and registrar
for the Common Stock.
 
     Each share of Common Stock of the Company has associated with it one  right
(a  'Right') to purchase one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Participating
Cumulative Preferred  Stock  (or  in  certain cases  other  securities)  of  the
Company.  The  terms of  the Rights  are set  forth in  a Rights  Agreement (the
'Rights Agreement')  dated as  of  January 20,  1994,  between the  Company  and
Chemical  Bank,  as Rights  Agent. Prior  to the  occurrence of  certain events,
including a  determination  by  the  Board of  Directors  following  the  public
disclosure of a tender or exchange offer for shares of Common Stock representing
15%  or more of the outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock, the Rights
will not be represented by separate  certificates and will be transferable  with
and only with the associated Common Stock.
 
     Pursuant  to the Rights Agreement, in the event that, among other things, a
third party acquires  beneficial ownership  of 15%  or more  of the  outstanding
shares  of the Company's Common Stock, each holder of Rights will be entitled to
purchase securities of  the Company  having a market  value equal  to twice  the
purchase  price  thereof.  In certain  circumstances,  including  an acquisition
involving 50% or more of the assets or earning power of the Company, the  Rights
will  become  exercisable to  purchase common  shares of  the acquiror  having a
market value equal to twice the purchase price thereof. In addition, Rights held
by an Acquiring Person (as defined in the Rights Agreement) will become null and
void, nontransferable and nonexercisable.
 
                                       10
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
     The Rights Agreement provides that  the Rights will not become  exercisable
in  the  event of  a Qualifying  Offer. A  'Qualifying Offer'  is defined  as an
all-cash tender offer for all outstanding  shares of the Company's Common  Stock
that  meets certain fairness requirements, including  the provision of a written
opinion of  a nationally  recognized investment  banking firm  stating that  the
price  to be paid to stockholders pursuant to the offer is fair from a financial
point of view.
 
     Subject to certain limitations, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole,
but not in part, at a price of $.01 per Right. The Rights will expire on January
20, 2004, unless earlier redeemed by the Company.
 
     The foregoing summary of certain terms of the Rights does not purport to be
complete and is subject to,  and is qualified in  its entirety by reference  to,
the Rights Agreement, a copy of which is on file with the Commission.
 
                               GLOBAL SECURITIES
 
     The  Offered Securities (other than Common Stock) of a series may be issued
in whole or in part in  the form of one or  more Global Securities that will  be
deposited  with, or on behalf of,  a depository (the 'Depository') identified in
the Prospectus  Supplement relating  to such  series. Global  Securities may  be
issued  only in fully registered form and in either temporary or permanent form.
Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual  Offered
Securities  represented thereby, a Global Security may not be transferred except
as a whole  by the  Depository for  such Global Security  to a  nominee of  such
Depository  or by  a nominee  of such Depository  to such  Depository or another
nominee of  such  Depository  or  by  the Depository  or  any  nominee  of  such
Depository to a successor Depository or any nominee of such successor.
 
     The  specific terms of the depository  arrangement with respect to a series
of Offered Securities will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to
such series.  Unless  otherwise  specified in  the  Prospectus  Supplement,  the
Company  anticipates  that the  following  provisions will  apply  to depository
arrangements.
 
     Upon the issuance  of a  Global Security,  the Depository  for such  Global
Security  or its nominee will credit on its book-entry registration and transfer
system the respective  principal amounts  of the  individual Offered  Securities
represented  by  such  Global Security  to  the  accounts of  persons  that have
accounts  with  such  Depository   ('Participants').  Such  accounts  shall   be
designated  by the underwriters, dealers or  agents with respect to such Offered
Securities or by  the Company if  such Offered Securities  are offered and  sold
directly  by the Company. Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Security
will be  limited to  Participants or  persons that  may hold  interests  through
Participants.  Ownership of beneficial interests in such Global Security will be
shown on, and  the transfer  of that ownership  will be  effected only  through,
records  maintained by the applicable Depository or its nominee (with respect to
interests  of  Participants)  and  records  of  Participants  (with  respect  to
interests  of persons  who hold through  Participants). The laws  of some states
require that certain  purchasers of  securities take physical  delivery of  such
securities  in definitive form. Such limits and such laws may impair the ability
to own, pledge or transfer beneficial interests in a Global Security.
 
     So long as  the Depository  for a  Global Security  or its  nominee is  the
registered  owner of such  Global Security, such Depository  or such nominee, as
the case may  be, will be  considered the sole  owner or holder  of the  Offered
Securities  represented  by  such Global  Security  for all  purposes  under the
Indenture or applicable Warrant Agreement.  Except as provided below, owners  of
beneficial  interests in a Global  Security will not be  entitled to have any of
the individual  Offered Securities  of  the series  represented by  such  Global
Security  registered in their names, will not  receive or be entitled to receive
physical delivery of any  such Offered Securities of  such series in  definitive
form  and  will  not be  considered  the  owners or  holders  thereof  under the
Indenture or applicable  Warrant Agreement.  Accordingly, each  person owning  a
beneficial  interest in  a Global  Security must rely  on the  procedures of the
Depository for such Global Security and, if such person is not a Participant, on
the procedures of the Participant through  which such person owns its  interest,
to  exercise any rights  of a holder  under the Indenture  or applicable Warrant
Agreement. The Company  understands that under  existing industry practices,  if
the  Company  requests any  action of  holders or  if an  owner of  a beneficial
interest in a Global Security desires to give or take any action which a  holder
is entitled to give or take under the Indenture or applicable Warrant Agreement,
the Depository for such Global Security would authorize
 
                                       11
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
the  Participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take such
action, and such Participants would  authorize beneficial owners owning  through
such  Participants to give or  take such action or  would otherwise act upon the
instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.
 
     Payments of principal  of and any  premium and any  interest on  individual
Offered  Securities represented by a Global Security registered in the name of a
Depository or its nominee will be made to the Depository or its nominee, as  the
case  may be, as the  registered owner of the  Global Security representing such
Offered Securities. None  of the Company,  the Trustee, the  Warrant Agent,  any
paying  agent  or  the  registrar  for such  Offered  Securities  will  have any
responsibility or  liability  for any  aspect  of  the records  relating  to  or
payments  made  on  account  of beneficial  ownership  interests  in  the Global
Security  for  such  Offered  Securities  or  for  maintaining,  supervising  or
reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
 
     The  Company expects that the Depository for a series of Offered Securities
or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium or interest in
respect of  a  permanent  Global  Security  representing  any  of  such  Offered
Securities,  immediately  will credit  Participants'  accounts with  payments in
amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the  principal
amount  of such  Global Security  for such  Offered Securities  as shown  on the
records of  such  Depository or  its  nominee.  The Company  also  expects  that
payments  by  Participants  to owners  of  beneficial interests  in  such Global
Security  held  through   such  Participants  will   be  governed  by   standing
instructions  and customary practices,  as is now the  case with securities held
for the accounts  of customers in  bearer form or  registered in 'street  name'.
Such payments will be the responsibility of such Participants.
 
     If  a  Depository  for  a  series of  Offered  Securities  is  at  any time
unwilling, unable  or  ineligible to  continue  as depository  and  a  successor
depository  is not  appointed by  the Company within  90 days,  the Company will
issue individual Offered Securities  of such series in  exchange for the  Global
Security  representing  such  series  of Offered  Securities.  In  addition, the
Company may, at any time and in its sole discretion, subject to any  limitations
described  in  the Prospectus  Supplement relating  to such  Offered Securities,
determine not to have any Offered  Securities of such series represented by  one
or  more Global  Securities and,  in such  event, will  issue individual Offered
Securities of such  series in  exchange for  the Global  Security or  Securities
representing such series of Offered Securities. Individual Offered Securities of
such  series  so  issued  will  be  issued  in  denominations,  unless otherwise
specified by the Company, of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof. Any  Offered
Securities  issued in definitive form in exchange  for a Global Security will be
registered in such name or names as the Depository shall instruct the Trustee or
relevant Warrant Agent. It is expected that such instructions will be based upon
directions  received  by  the  Depository  from  Participants  with  respect  to
ownership of beneficial interests in such Global Security.
 
                           HOLDING COMPANY STRUCTURE
 
     The  Company  is a  holding  company and  its  assets consist  primarily of
investments in  its  subsidiaries. A  substantial  portion of  the  consolidated
liabilities of the Company have been incurred by its subsidiaries. TWE, which is
not  consolidated with  the Company for  financial reporting  purposes, also has
substantial indebtedness and  other liabilities.  The Company's  rights and  the
rights of its creditors, including holders of Debt Securities, to participate in
the  distribution of assets  of any person  in which the  Company owns an equity
interest (including any subsidiary  and TWE) upon  such person's liquidation  or
reorganization  will  be subject  to prior  claims  of such  person's creditors,
including trade creditors, except to the extent that the Company may itself be a
creditor with recognized claims against such person (in which case the claims of
the Company would still be subject to  the prior claims of any secured  creditor
of  such person and of any holder of  indebtedness of such person that is senior
to that held by the Company). Accordingly, the holders of Debt Securities may be
deemed to be effectively subordinated to such claims.
 
     The Company's  ability  to service  its  indebtedness, including  the  Debt
Securities,  and to pay dividends on its preferred stock and the Common Stock is
dependent primarily  upon the  earnings  of its  subsidiaries  and TWE  and  the
distribution or other payment of such earnings to the Company. The TWE Agreement
of  Limited  Partnership  and the  bank  credit  facilities of  TWE  and certain
subsidiaries of the Company limit distributions and other transfers of funds  to
the  Company. Generally, distributions by TWE, other than tax distributions, are
subject to restricted payments limitations and availability
 
                                       12
 
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under certain financial ratios  applicable to TWE contained  in its bank  credit
facilities.  As  a result  of the  expected acquisition  by subsidiaries  of the
Company of certain cable systems, certain subsidiaries of the Company expect  to
have  outstanding  indebtedness and  bank  credit facilities  that  will contain
limitations on the ability of such  subsidiaries to make distributions or  other
payments to the Company.
 
     Additional  information concerning the indebtedness  of the Company and its
subsidiaries will be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement.
 
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
     The Company may sell the Offered Securities to one or more underwriters  or
dealers  for public offering and sale by them or may sell the Offered Securities
to investors directly or through agents. The Prospectus Supplement with  respect
to the Offered Securities offered thereby describes the terms of the offering of
such Offered Securities and the method of distribution of the Offered Securities
offered  thereby and  identifies any  firms acting  as underwriters,  dealers or
agents in connection therewith.
 
     The Offered Securities may be distributed from time to time in one or  more
transactions  at a  fixed price or  prices (which  may be changed)  or at prices
determined as specified  in the  Prospectus Supplement. In  connection with  the
sale of the Offered Securities, underwriters, dealers or agents may be deemed to
have  received  compensation  from  the  Company  in  the  form  of underwriting
discounts or commissions and may also receive commissions from purchasers of the
Offered Securities for  whom they may  act as agent.  Underwriters may sell  the
Offered  Securities  to  or  through  dealers,  and  such  dealers  may  receive
compensation in  the form  of  discounts, concessions  or commissions  from  the
underwriters  or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agent.
Certain  of  the  underwriters,  dealers  or  agents  who  participate  in   the
distribution  of the Offered  Securities may engage  in other transactions with,
and perform other services for, the Company in the ordinary course of business.
 
     Any underwriting compensation paid by the Company to underwriters or agents
in connection with the  offering of the Offered  Securities, and any  discounts,
concessions  or commissions allowed by underwriters to dealers, are set forth in
the Prospectus Supplement. Underwriters, dealers and agents participating in the
distribution of the Offered Securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and any
discounts and commissions received  by them and any  profit realized by them  on
the  resale of the Offered Securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts
and commissions under  the Securities  Act. Underwriters  and their  controlling
persons,  dealers and agents may be entitled, under agreements entered into with
the Company, to  indemnification against and  contribution toward certain  civil
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
 
                                 LEGAL OPINIONS
 
     Certain  legal matters  in connection with  the Offered  Securities will be
passed upon for  the Company by  Cravath, Swaine &  Moore, Worldwide Plaza,  825
Eighth  Avenue, New York, New York and for  the Underwriters, if any, named in a
Prospectus Supplement, by Shearman &  Sterling, 599 Lexington Avenue, New  York,
New York.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
     The  consolidated financial statements of the  Company and TWE appearing in
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K  for the year ended December 31,  1994,
and  the combined financial  statements of the  Time Warner Service Partnerships
incorporated by  reference therein,  have been  audited by  Ernst &  Young  LLP,
independent  auditors, as set  forth in their reports  thereon set forth therein
and incorporated  herein  by  reference. Such  financial  statements  have  been
incorporated  herein by reference  in reliance upon such  reports given upon the
authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
 
     The financial  statements  of  Summit  Communications  Group,  Inc.  as  of
December  31, 1993 and  1994, and for  the three years  ended December 31, 1994,
incorporated by reference in  this Prospectus, have been  audited by Deloitte  &
Touche  LLP,  independent auditors,  as set  forth in  their report  thereon and
incorporated herein  by reference.  Such financial  statements are  incorporated
herein  by reference in reliance upon such report and upon the authority of such
firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
 
     The  financial  statements  of  Newhouse  Broadcasting  Cable  Division  of
Newhouse Broadcasting Corporation and subsidiaries as of July 31, 1993 and 1994,
and for the three years ended July 31, 1994,
 
                                       13
 
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incorporated  by reference in this Prospectus, have been audited by Paul Scherer
& Company LLP, independent  auditors, as set forth  in their report thereon  and
incorporated  herein by  reference. Such  financial statements  are incorporated
herein by reference in reliance upon such report and upon the authority of  such
firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
 
     The   financial  statements  of  Vision  Cable  Division  of  Vision  Cable
Communications, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1993 and 1994, and  for
the  three  years ended  December 31,  1994, incorporated  by reference  in this
Prospectus, have  been  audited  by  Paul Scherer  &  Company  LLP,  independent
auditors,  as  set forth  in  their report  thereon  and incorporated  herein by
reference. Such financial  statements are  incorporated herein  by reference  in
reliance  upon such  report and upon  the authority  of such firm  as experts in
accounting and auditing.
 
     The financial  statements  of  Cablevision  Industries  Corporation  as  of
December  31, 1993 and  1994, and for  the three years  ended December 31, 1994,
incorporated by  reference  in this  Prospectus,  have been  audited  by  Arthur
Andersen  LLP, independent  auditors, as set  forth in their  report thereon and
incorporated herein  by reference.  Such financial  statements are  incorporated
herein  by reference in reliance upon such report and upon the authority of such
firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
 
     The financial statements of  Cablevision Industries Limited Partnership  as
of  December 31, 1993 and 1994, and for the three years ended December 31, 1994,
incorporated by  reference  in this  Prospectus,  have been  audited  by  Arthur
Andersen  LLP, independent  auditors, as set  forth in their  report thereon and
incorporated herein  by reference.  Such financial  statements are  incorporated
herein  by reference in reliance upon such report and upon the authority of such
firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
 
     The financial statements of KBLCOM Incorporated as of December 31, 1993 and
1994, and for the three years ended December 31, 1994, incorporated by reference
in this Prospectus,  have been  audited by  Deloitte &  Touche LLP,  independent
auditors,  as  set forth  in  their report  thereon  and incorporated  herein by
reference. Such financial  statements are  incorporated herein  by reference  in
reliance  upon such  report and upon  the authority  of such firm  as experts in
accounting and auditing.
 
     The financial statements of Paragon Communications as of December 31,  1993
and  1994, and  for the  three years  ended December  31, 1994,  incorporated by
reference in  this  Prospectus,  have  been audited  by  Price  Waterhouse  LLP,
independent  accountants, as set forth in  their report thereon and incorporated
herein by  reference.  Such  financial statements  are  incorporated  herein  by
reference  in reliance upon such  report and upon the  authority of such firm as
experts in accounting and auditing.
 
                            ------------------------
     The following information is being disclosed pursuant to Florida law and is
accurate as of the date of  this  Prospectus:  A subsidiary  of the Company pays
royalties to Artex, S.A., a corporation  organized  under  the  laws   of  Cuba,
in  connection  with   the distribution  in the United States of  certain  Cuban
musical recordings. Current information concerning this  matter may be  obtained
from  the  State  of  Florida Department  of  Banking &  Finance,  The  Capital,
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0350, 904-488-9805.
 
                            ------------------------
     No  person  is  authorized  to  give   any  information  or  to  make   any
representations   other  than  those   contained  in  this   Prospectus  or  any
accompanying Prospectus Supplement  in connection  with the offer  made by  this
Prospectus  or  any Prospectus  Supplement, and,  if given  or made,  such other
information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized
by the Company or by any underwriter,  dealer or agent. This Prospectus and  any
Prospectus Supplement do not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an
offer  to buy any securities other than  those to which they relate. Neither the
delivery of this Prospectus and  any accompanying Prospectus Supplement nor  any
sale  of or offer to sell the Offered Securities offered hereby shall, under any
circumstances, create  an implication  that  there has  been  no change  in  the
affairs  of the Company or that the information herein is correct as of any time
after  the  date  hereof.  This  Prospectus  and  any  accompanying   Prospectus
Supplement  do not constitute an offer to sell  or a solicitation of an offer to
buy any of the Offered Securities offered  hereby in any state to any person  to
whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such state.
 
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