At one point, Charter Communications was trying to negotiate a $61.3 billion deal following more than six months in talks with TWC. But after no deal was made, Charter said it was led "to determine there is no genuine intent from Time Warner Cable's management and board of directors to engage in a merger agreement". The company's chief executive Thomas Rudledge wrote in a letter to TWC chief executive Robert Marcus dated January 13 that it will "remain open to real engagement".