AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JANUARY 14, 1998
                                                 REGISTRATION NO. [            ]
________________________________________________________________________________
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                            ------------------------
                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                            ------------------------
                                TIME WARNER INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
                            ------------------------

                                                                                        
                   DELAWARE                                  75 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA                 13-3527249
         (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION                         NEW YORK, NY 10019      (I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO.)
      OF INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                         (212) 484-8000
   (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
 

 
                          TIME WARNER COMPANIES, INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
                            ------------------------

                                                                                         
                   DELAWARE                                  75 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA                   13-1388520
         (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION                         NEW YORK, NY 10019        (I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO.)
      OF INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                         (212) 484-8000
   (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF REGISTRANT'S  PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
 

 
                        TURNER BROADCASTING SYSTEM, INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
                            ------------------------

                                                                                                          
                   GEORGIA                                      ONE CNN CENTER                               58-0950695
         (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION                       ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303             (I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO.)
      OF INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                         (404) 827-1700
   (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
 

 
                            ------------------------
                                 PETER R. HAJE
                      EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, SECRETARY
                              AND GENERAL COUNSEL
                                TIME WARNER INC.
                              75 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA
                               NEW YORK, NY 10019
                                 (212) 484-8000
 (NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE,
                             OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
                            ------------------------
                                   COPIES TO:

                                                                                          
            WILLIAM P. ROGERS, JR.                           LOUISE S. SAMS, ESQ.             FAITH GROSSNICKLE
           CRAVATH, SWAINE & MOORE                    VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL     SHEARMAN & STERLING
              825 EIGHTH AVENUE                        TURNER BROADCASTING SYSTEM, INC.      599 LEXINGTON AVENUE
           NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10019                             ONE CNN CENTER                NEW YORK, NY 10022
                (212) 474-1000                              ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303              (212) 848-8015
 

 
                            ------------------------
     APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO PUBLIC: From time to
time after the effective date of this Registration Statement, as determined by
market conditions.
     If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. [ ]
     If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend
or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: [x]
     If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]
     If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [ ]
     If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. [ ]
     Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
                            ------------------------
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
 


                                                                                  PROPOSED MAXIMUM      PROPOSED MAXIMUM
                TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF                   AGGREGATE AMOUNT TO BE    OFFERING PRICE      AGGREGATE OFFERING
              SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED                    REGISTERED(1)           PER UNIT(2)            PRICE(2)
                                                                                            
Debt Securities........................................    $1,000,000,000(3)            100%           $1,000,000,000(3)
Guarantees of Debt Securities(4).......................      $1,000,000,000              N/A                  N/A
 

                                                          AMOUNT OF
                TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF                   REGISTRATION
              SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED                    FEE
                                                      
Debt Securities........................................    $295,000
Guarantees of Debt Securities(4).......................     N/A(5)

 
                                                        (footnotes on next page)
     THE REGISTRANTS HEREBY AMEND THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANTS
SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a),
MAY DETERMINE.
________________________________________________________________________________
 





(footnotes from previous page)
 
(1) United States dollars or the equivalent thereof in one or more foreign
    currencies, foreign currency units or composite currencies.
 
(2) Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee.
 
(3) Represents the aggregate principal amount plus, if any Debt Securities are
    issued at an original issue discount,  such principal amount as shall
    result in an aggregate initial  offering price of $1,000,000,000.
 
(4) Time Warner Companies, Inc. and Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. will
    irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee on an unsecured senior basis Debt
    Securities of Time Warner Inc.
 
(5) Pursuant to Rule 457(n), no separate fee is required to be paid in respect
    of guarantees of the Debt Securities which are being registered
    concurrently.






INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR MAY
OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT BECOMES
EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE SECURITIES
IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR
TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF SUCH STATE.


                 SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JANUARY 14, 1998
 
PROSPECTUS
                                TIME WARNER INC.
                                DEBT SECURITIES
                         UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED BY
                          TIME WARNER COMPANIES, INC.
                                      AND
                        TURNER BROADCASTING SYSTEM, INC.
 
     Time Warner Inc. (the 'Issuer') may offer from time to time, together or
separately, unsecured notes, debentures or other evidences of indebtedness
('Debt Securities'), having an aggregate initial public offering price not to
exceed $1,000,000,000 (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 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').
 
     The Debt Securities will be irrevocably, fully and unconditionally
guaranteed (the 'Guarantees') on an unsecured basis by each of Time Warner
Companies, Inc. ('TWC') and Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. ('TBS'). TWC and
TBS are wholly owned subsidiaries of the Issuer. The Issuer is a holding company
that derives its operating income and cash flow primarily from TWC and TBS. The
assets of the Issuer consist primarily of its investments in TWC and TBS, and
the assets of TWC and TBS consist primarily of investments in their respective
consolidated and unconsolidated subsidiaries. The Issuer and its consolidated
and unconsolidated subsidiaries are collectively referred to as the 'Company'.
 
     Unless otherwise specified in an accompanying Prospectus Supplement, the
Debt Securities and the Guarantees will be senior securities of the Issuer, TWC
and TBS, respectively, ranking equally with all other unsubordinated and
unsecured indebtedness and other obligations of the Issuer, TWC and TBS,
respectively.
 
     The specific terms of the Debt Securities in respect of which this
Prospectus is being delivered will be set forth in an accompanying Prospectus
Supplement, including, where applicable, the specific designation, aggregate
principal amount, currency, denomination, maturity (which may be fixed or
extendible), priority, interest rate (or manner of calculation thereof), if any,
time of payment of interest, if any, terms for any redemption, terms for any
repayment at the option of the holder, terms for any sinking fund payments, the
initial public offering price, provisions regarding original issue discount
securities, additional covenants and any other specific terms of such Debt
Securities.
 
     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 Debt Securities covered by the
Prospectus Supplement.
 
     The Debt Securities 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 Debt Securities may be offered directly, through agents designated from
time to time or through dealers or underwriters. If any agents of the Issuer,
TWC or TBS or any dealers or underwriters are involved in the offering of the
Debt 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 Issuer from such sale will also be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement.
 
                            ------------------------
               THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS             , 1998.
 






     CERTAIN PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN THIS OFFERING MAY ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS
THAT STABILIZE, MAINTAIN OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE PRICE OF THE NOTES, INCLUDING
OVER-ALLOTMENT, STABILIZING AND SHORT-COVERING TRANSACTIONS IN SUCH SECURITIES,
AND THE IMPOSITION OF A PENALTY BID, IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING. FOR A
DESCRIPTION OF THESE ACTIVITIES, SEE 'PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION'.
 
                            ------------------------
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
     The Issuer 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'). TWC and TBS are not
required to file periodic reports and other information under the Exchange Act.
Instead, information with respect to TWC and TBS is provided, to the extent
required by the Commission, in the required filings made by the Issuer. Reports,
proxy statements and other information filed by the Issuer 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 Citicorp 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, or through the World Wide Web (http://www.sec.gov). Such
reports, proxy statements and other information may also be inspected at the
offices of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York, New
York, on which one or more of the Issuer's securities are listed.
 
     This Prospectus constitutes a part of a Registration Statement filed by the
Issuer, TWC and TBS 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
Issuer, TWC, TBS and the Debt 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 following documents filed with the Commission by the Issuer (File No.
001-12259) are incorporated by reference in this Prospectus:
 
          (a) the Issuer's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
     December 31, 1996, as amended by Forms 10K/A dated March 27, 1997 and June
     26, 1997 (as amended, the 'Issuer's 1996 Form 10-K');
 
          (b) the Issuer's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended
     March 31, 1997, June 30, 1997 and September 30, 1997; and
 
          (c) the Issuer's Current Reports on Form 8-K dated March 21, 1997,
     October 15, 1997, October 27, 1997 and November 13, 1997.
 
     All documents and reports subsequently filed by the Issuer 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 Debt Securities
shall be deemed to be incorporated herein by reference and to be a part hereof
from the date of filing of such documents.
 
     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
 
                                       2
 





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 Issuer 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 Department, Time Warner Inc., 75 Rockefeller
Plaza, New York, New York 10019; telephone: (212) 484-6971.
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
     The Company, the world's leading media and entertainment company, has
interests in four fundamental areas of business: Entertainment, consisting
principally of interests in filmed entertainment, television production,
television broadcasting, recorded music and music publishing; Cable Networks,
consisting principally of interests in cable television programming; Publishing,
consisting principally of interests in magazine publishing, book publishing and
direct marketing; and Cable, consisting principally of interests in cable
television systems. Each of the Issuer, TWC and TBS is a holding company that
derives its operating income and cash flow primarily from its subsidiaries and
investments. The assets of the Issuer consist primarily of its investments in
TWC and TBS. The assets of TWC consist primarily of its investments in its
consolidated and unconsolidated subsidiaries, including Time Warner
Entertainment Company, L.P. ('TWE'). The assets of TBS consist primarily of
investments in its consolidated and unconsolidated subsidiaries. The ability of
the Issuer, TWC and TBS to service their respective indebtedness and other
liabilities, including the Debt Securities and the Guarantees, is dependent
primarily upon the earnings and cash flow of their respective consolidated and
unconsolidated subsidiaries and the distribution or other payment of such
earnings and cash flow to the Issuer, TWC and TBS. See 'Holding Company
Structure'.
 
     The Issuer became the parent of TWC and TBS on October 10, 1996 upon the
merger of TWC and TBS with separate subsidiaries of the Issuer (the 'TBS
Transaction'), as more fully described below. In connection therewith, the
Issuer changed its name to Time Warner Inc. from TW Inc. and TWC changed its
name from Time Warner Inc. to Time Warner Companies, Inc.
 
     TWE was formed as a Delaware limited partnership in 1992 to own and operate
substantially all of the business of Warner Bros., Home Box Office and the cable
television businesses owned and operated by TWC prior to such date. TWC and
certain of its wholly owned subsidiaries own general and limited partnership
interests aggregating 74.49% of the pro rata priority capital ('Series A
Capital') and residual equity capital ('Residual Capital') of TWE and 100% of
the senior priority capital and junior priority capital of TWE. The remaining
25.51% limited partnership interests in the Series A Capital and Residual
Capital of TWE are held by a subsidiary of U S WEST, Inc. TWC does not
consolidate TWE and certain related companies (the 'Entertainment Group') for
financial reporting purposes.
 
TBS TRANSACTION
 
     On October 10, 1996, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan
of Merger dated as of September 22, 1995, as amended, among the Issuer, TWC, TBS
and certain of their wholly owned subsidiaries, among other things: (a) each of
TWC and TBS became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Issuer through a merger with
a subsidiary of the Issuer, (b) each outstanding share of common stock of TWC,
other than shares held directly or indirectly by TWC, was converted into one
share of common stock of the Issuer, (c) each outstanding share of preferred
stock of TWC was converted into one share of a substantially identical series of
preferred stock of the Issuer, (d) each outstanding share of common stock of
TBS, other than shares held directly or indirectly by the Issuer or TWC or in
the treasury of TBS, was converted into the right to receive 0.75 shares of
common stock of the Issuer and (e) each outstanding share of preferred stock of
TBS, other than shares held directly or indirectly by the Issuer or TWC, was
converted into the right to receive 4.8 shares of common stock of the Issuer.
Additional
 
                                       3
 





information on the TBS Transaction is set forth in Note 2 to the Issuer's
consolidated financial statements included in the Issuer's 1996 Form 10-K, which
is incorporated by reference herein.
 
RECIPROCAL GUARANTEES OF EXISTING INDEBTEDNESS
 
     In order to integrate TBS into the Issuer's operating structure and
simplify the credit structure of the Issuer, TWC and TBS such that the financial
risks associated with investing in the indebtedness of any one of the three
companies are substantially equivalent to those associated with investing in the
indebtedness of any of the other companies, prior to the date of the
Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part, the Issuer, TWC
and TBS entered into the following guarantees of outstanding publicly traded
indebtedness ('Outstanding Securities') of TWC and TBS:
 
     The Issuer, as primary obligor and not merely as surety, has irrevocably
and unconditionally guaranteed (the 'Downstream Guarantees') (a) the full and
punctual payment of principal of and interest on the Outstanding Securities of
each of TWC and TBS when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by
redemption or otherwise, and all other monetary obligations of TWC and TBS under
the Outstanding Securities of TWC and TBS and the indentures relating to the
Outstanding Securities (including the obligations to the respective trustees)
and (b) the full and punctual performance within applicable grace periods of all
other obligations of TWC and TBS under the Outstanding Securities and the
respective indentures.
 
     Each of TWC and TBS, as primary obligor and not merely as surety, has
irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed (the 'Cross Guarantees') (a) the full
and punctual payment of principal of and interest on the Outstanding Securities
of the other party when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption
or otherwise, and all other monetary obligations of the other party under the
Outstanding Securities of such other party and the indentures relating to such
Outstanding Securities (including the obligations to the respective trustees)
and (b) the full and punctual performance within applicable grace periods of all
other obligations of the other party under such Outstanding Securities and the
respective indentures. The maximum aggregate amount of the Cross Guarantee by
TBS shall not exceed the maximum amount that can be guaranteed by TBS without
rendering such guarantee voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent
conveyance or fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the rights of
creditors generally.
 
     The Issuer's and TWC's principal executive offices are located at 75
Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New York 10019. TBS's principal executive offices
are located at One CNN Center, Atlanta, Georgia 30303.
 
                       RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
 
     The historical ratios of earnings to fixed charges for each of the Issuer,
TWC and TBS and the pro forma ratios of earnings to fixed charges for each of
the Issuer and TWC are set forth below for the periods indicated. For periods in
which earnings before fixed charges were insufficient to cover fixed charges,
the dollar amount of coverage deficiency (in millions), instead of the ratio, is
disclosed. The ratios of earnings to fixed charges of the Issuer and TWC for all
periods after 1992 reflect the deconsolidation of the Entertainment Group,
principally TWE, effective January 1, 1993.
 
     The ratios of earnings to fixed charges of TBS for all post-merger periods
have been adjusted to reflect the Issuer's basis of accounting. The ratios of
earnings to fixed charges (or coverage deficiencies) of TBS for all pre-merger
periods are reflected at TBS's historical cost basis of accounting. Certain
reclassifications have been made to TBS's ratios of earnings to fixed charges
for pre-merger periods to conform to the post-merger presentation.
 
     The historical ratio of earnings to fixed charges of each of the Issuer and
TWC for 1996 reflects (a) the use of approximately $1.55 billion of net proceeds
from the issuance of 1.6 million shares of Series M exchangeable preferred
stock, having an aggregate liquidation preference of $1.6 billion to reduce
outstanding indebtedness (the 'Preferred Stock Refinancing'), (b) the
acquisition of Cablevision Industries Corporation and related companies,
including the assumption or incurrence of approximately $2 billion of
indebtedness and, with respect to the Issuer only, (c) the TBS Transaction,
including the assumption of approximately $2.8 billion of indebtedness.
 
                                       4
 





     The historical ratio of earnings to fixed charges of each of the Issuer and
TWC for 1995 reflects (a) the acquisition of KBLCOM Incorporated and Summit
Communications Group, Inc., including the assumption or incurrence of
approximately $1.3 billion of indebtedness and (b) the exchange by Toshiba
Corporation and ITOCHU Corporation of their direct and indirect interests in
TWE.
 
     The historical ratio of earnings to fixed charges of each of the Issuer and
TWC 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
historical ratio of 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 ratios of earnings to fixed charges for each of the Issuer
and TWC for the nine months ended September 30, 1997 and the year ended December
31, 1996 give effect to (i) the agreed-upon transfer by a wholly owned
subsidiary of TWC of cable television systems serving an aggregate of
approximately 667,000 subscribers to the Time Warner
Entertainment-Advance/Newhouse Partnership, ('TWE-A/N'), a partnership currently
owned 66.7% by TWE and 33.3% by the Advance/Newhouse Partnership, subject to
approximately $1 billion of debt, in exchange for common and preferred
partnership interests therein, as well as certain related transactions (the
'TWE-A/N Transfers'), pursuant to an agreement entered into by such subsidiary
on October 27, 1997 with TWE-A/N and each of its partners and (ii) with respect
to 1996 only, (a) the Preferred Stock Refinancing and certain other debt
refinancings and (b) with respect to the Issuer only, the TBS Transaction, as if
such transactions had occurred at the beginning of such periods. The pro forma
information presented below should be read in conjunction with the pro forma
consolidated condensed financial statements contained in the Issuer's Current
Report on Form 8-K dated November 13, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference.
Such pro forma amounts are presented for informational purposes only and are not
necessarily indicative of the actual ratios that would have occurred if such
transactions had been consummated as of the dates indicated, nor are they
necessarily indicative of future results.
 


                                            NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                              SEPTEMBER 30,                      YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                        -------------------------    -------------------------------------------------
                                        PRO FORMA                    PRO FORMA
                                          1997       1997    1996      1996       1996    1995    1994    1993    1992
                                        ---------    ----    ----    ---------    ----    ----    ----    ----    ----
 
                                                                                       
Issuer...............................      1.4x      1.4x    1.0x       1.1x      1.1x    1.1x    1.1x    1.1x    1.4x
TWC..................................      1.4x      1.4x    1.0x       1.2x      1.1x    1.1x    1.1x    1.1x    1.4x

 


                             NINE MONTHS          THREE MONTHS          NINE MONTHS          YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                ENDED                 ENDED                ENDED           ----------------------------
                          SEPTEMBER 30, 1997    DECEMBER 31, 1996    SEPTEMBER 30, 1996    1995    1994    1993    1992
                          ------------------    -----------------    ------------------    ----    ----    ----    ----
TBS....................          1.8x                  1.6x                $ (44)          1.7x    1.3x    1.6x    1.4x
                                                                                              

 
     For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings
were calculated by adding (i) pretax income, (ii) interest expense, including
previously capitalized interest amortized to expense and the portion of rents
representative of an interest factor for the Issuer, TWC and TBS and their
respective majority-owned subsidiaries, (iii) the Issuer's, TWC's and TBS's
respective proportionate share of the items included in (ii) above for their
50%-owned companies, (iv) preferred stock dividend requirements of
majority-owned subsidiaries, (v) minority interest in the income of
majority-owned subsidiaries that have fixed charges and (vi) the amount of
undistributed losses of each of the Issuer's, TWC's and TBS's less than
50%-owned companies. Fixed charges consist of (i) interest expense, including
interest capitalized and the portion of rents representative of an interest
factor for the Issuer, TWC and TBS and their respective majority-owned
subsidiaries, (ii) the Issuer's, TWC's and TBS's respective proportionate share
of such items for their 50%-owned companies and (iii) preferred stock dividend
requirements of majority-owned subsidiaries. Earnings as defined include
significant noncash charges for depreciation and amortization. Historical fixed
charges of the Issuer and TWC for the nine months ended September 30, 1997 and
1996 and the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 include noncash
interest expense of $73 million, $68 million, $91 million, $176 million and $219
 
                                       5
 





million, respectively, principally relating to TWC's Liquid Yield Option Notes
due 2012 and 2013 and, in 1995 and 1994 only, TWC's Redeemable Reset Notes due
2002. Historical fixed charges of the Issuer for the nine months ended September
30, 1997 and the year ended December 31, 1996 include an additional $2 million
and $5 million, respectively, in noncash interest expense relating to TBS's zero
coupon convertible notes due 2007. Pro forma fixed charges of the Issuer for the
year ended December 31, 1996 similarly include an additional $14 million in
noncash interest expense relating to TBS's zero coupon convertible notes due
2007 for the period prior to the consummation of the TBS Transaction. Historical
fixed charges of TBS include noncash interest expense of $2 million, $5 million,
$14 million, $18 million, $17 million, $29 million and $34 million for the nine
months ended September 30, 1997, the three months ended December 31, 1996 and
the nine months ended September 30, 1996 and the years ended December 31, 1995,
1994, 1993 and 1992, respectively.
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
     Except as otherwise set forth in the Prospectus Supplement, the net
proceeds to the Issuer from the sale of Debt Securities will be used to
repurchase, redeem or otherwise repay indebtedness of the Issuer and its
subsidiaries, including TWC and/or TBS. Additional information on the use of net
proceeds from the sale of any particular Debt Securities will be set forth in
the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Debt Securities.
 
                                       6






             DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES AND THE GUARANTEES
 
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 (the 'Indenture'), between the Issuer and The Chase Manhattan 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, unless otherwise indicated. 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.
 
     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
Issuer. 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 if other than United States dollars and authorized
denominations of such Debt Securities; (ii) the date or dates on which such Debt
Securities will mature (which may be fixed or extendible); (iii) the rate or
rates (or manner of calculation thereof), if any, per annum at which such Debt
Securities will bear interest; (iv) the dates, if any, on which such interest
will be payable, (v) 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); (vi) 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 (vii) 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 Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover
any tax or other governmental charges payable in connection therewith. (Section
3.05)
 
GUARANTEES
 
     Under the Guarantees, each of TWC and TBS, as primary obligor and not
merely as surety, will irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee, to each Holder
of Debt Securities, and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, (i) the
full and punctual payment of principal of and interest on the Debt Securities
when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, and
all other monetary obligations of the Issuer under the Indenture (including
obligations to the Trustee) and the Debt Securities and (ii) the full and
punctual performance within applicable grace periods of all other obligations of
the Issuer under the Indenture and the Debt Securities. The Guarantees
constitute guarantees of payment, performance and compliance and not merely of
collection. The obligations of TWC and TBS to make any payments may be satisfied
by causing the Issuer to make such payments. Further, TWC and TBS agree to pay
any and all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys'
 
                                       7
 





fees) incurred by the Trustee or any Holder of Debt Securities in enforcing any
of their respective rights under the Guarantees. The Indenture provides that
each of the Guarantees of TWC and TBS is limited to the maximum amount that can
be guaranteed by TWC or TBS, respectively, without rendering the relevant
Guarantee voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or
fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.
(Article XIII)
 
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 Issuer and will be direct, unsecured obligations of the
Issuer, ranking on a parity with all other unsecured and unsubordinated
obligations of the Issuer, and the Guarantees will be senior obligations of TWC
and TBS and will be direct unsecured obligations of TWC and TBS, ranking on a
parity with all other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of TWC and TBS.
Each of the Issuer, TWC and TBS is a holding company and the Debt Securities and
the Guarantees will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future
liabilities, including indebtedness, of the subsidiaries of the Issuer, TWC and
TBS, respectively. See 'Holding Company Structure'.
 
CERTAIN COVENANTS
 
     Limitation on Liens. The Indenture provides that neither the Issuer nor any
Material Subsidiary of the Issuer 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
Issuer makes or causes to be made effective provision whereby the Debt
Securities 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 Issuer to secure
     indebtedness of such Subsidiaries to the Issuer or to one or more other
     Subsidiaries of the Issuer;
 
          (iii) liens affecting property of a person existing at the time it
     becomes a Subsidiary of the Issuer or at the time it merges into or
     consolidates with the Issuer or a Subsidiary of the Issuer or at the time
     of a sale, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the
     properties of such person to the Issuer or its Subsidiaries;
 
          (iv) liens on property existing 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 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 Issuer 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 Issuer 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;
 
                                       8
 





          (viii) liens on Works which either (1) existed in such Works before
     the time of their acquisition and were not created in anticipation thereof,
     or (2) were created solely for the purpose of securing obligations to
     financiers, producers, distributors, exhibitors, completion guarantors,
     inventors, copyright holders, financial institutions or other participants
     incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with the
     acquisition, financing, production, completion, distribution or exhibition
     of Works.
 
          (ix) any lien on the office building and hotel complex located in
     Atlanta, Georgia known as the CNN Center Complex, including the parking
     decks for such complex (to the extent such parking decks are owned or
     leased by the Issuer or its Subsidiaries), or any portion thereof and all
     property rights therein and the products, revenues and proceeds therefrom
     created as part of any mortgage financing or sale-leaseback of the CNN
     Center Complex;
 
          (x) liens on satellite transponders and all property rights therein
     and the products, revenues and proceeds therefrom which secure obligations
     incurred in connection with the acquisition, utilization or operation of
     such satellite transponders or the refinancing of any such obligations;
 
          (xi) restrictions on the Atlanta National League Baseball Club, Inc.
     and Atlanta Hawks, Ltd and their respective assets imposed by Major League
     Baseball or the Commissioner of Baseball, and the National Basketball
     Association, respectively, including, without limitation, restrictions on
     the transferability of the Issuer's or any of its Subsidiaries' interests
     therein;
 
          (xii) liens on capital leases entered into after the date of the
     Indenture provided that such liens extend only to the property or assets
     that are the subject of such capital leases;
 
          (xiii) Liens resulting from progress payments or partial payments
     under United States government contracts or subcontracts;
 
          (xiv) other liens arising in connection with indebtedness of the
     Issuer and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount for the Issuer
     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
     Issuer and (B) $500 million; and
 
          (xv) any extensions, renewal or replacement of any lien referred to in
     the foregoing clauses (i) through (xiv) 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 10.06)
 
     Limitation on Senior Debt. Subject to the covenant termination provisions
of the following paragraph, the Indenture provides that the Issuer 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
Issuer and its Subsidiaries for the Test Period would be less than 1.5 to 1;
provided, however, that the foregoing restrictions will not apply 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 10.07)
 
     After the Issuer has reached Investment Grade Status, and notwithstanding
that any series of the Debt Securities may later cease to have an Investment
Grade Rating from either or both of the Rating Agencies, the Issuer will be
released from its obligations to comply with the restrictive covenant described
under 'Limitation on Senior Debt'.
 
     Limitation on Merger, Consolidation and Certain Sales of Assets. The
Indenture provides that neither the Issuer, TWC nor TBS will 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) (i)
in the case of the
 
                                       9
 





Issuer, the successor assumes the Issuer's obligations under the Indenture and
the Debt Securities on the same terms and conditions and (ii) in the case of TWC
or TBS, the successor assumes TWC or TBS's obligations under the Indenture and
the Guarantees on the same terms and conditions and (c) immediately after giving
effect to such transactions, there is no default under the Indenture. (Sections
8.01 and 8.02)
 
     Other than the restrictions in the Indenture on liens and incurrence of
Senior Debt described above, the Indenture and the Debt Securities do not
contain any covenants or other provisions designed to afford Holders of Debt
Securities protection in the event of a recapitalization or highly leveraged
transaction involving the Issuer.
 
     Any additional covenants of the Issuer, TWC or TBS pertaining to a series
of Debt Securities will be set forth in a Prospectus Supplement relating to such
series of Debt Securities.
 
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
 
     The following are certain of the terms defined in the Indenture:
 
          'Consolidated Cash Flow' means, with respect to the Issuer, for any
     period, the net income of the Issuer 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 Issuer, there shall be included, in respect
     of each other Person that is accounted for by the Issuer on the equity
     method (as determined in accordance with GAAP), the Issuer'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 to be used to
     repay or refinance other Senior Debt.
 
          'Consolidated Interest Expense' means, with respect to the Issuer, for
     any period, cash interest expense of the Issuer 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
     Issuer, there shall be included, in respect of each other Person that is
     accounted for by the Issuer on the equity method (as determined in
     accordance with GAAP), the Issuer'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, with respect to the Issuer, at the
     date of any determination, the consolidated stockholders' or owners' equity
     of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in
     accordance with GAAP consistently applied.
 
          'GAAP' means generally accepted accounting principles as such
     principles are in effect as of the date of the Indenture.
 
          'Investment Grade Rating' means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3
     (or the equivalent) by Moody's and BBB - (or the equivalent) by S&P.
 
          'Investment Grade Status' shall be deemed to have been reached on the
     date that the Debt Securities have an Investment Grade Rating from both
     Rating Agencies.
 
                                       10
 





          'Material Subsidiary' means, with respect to the Issuer, any Person
     that is a Subsidiary if at the end of the most recent fiscal quarter of the
     Issuer, 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 Issuer and its other Subsidiaries
     exceeded 10% of the Issuer's Consolidated Net Worth.
 
          'Moody's' means Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or any successor to
     the rating agency business thereof.
 
          'Person' means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint
     venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated
     organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
 
          'Rating Agencies' means Moody's and S&P.
 
          'S&P' means Standard & Poor's Ratings Service or any successor to the
     rating agency business 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.
 
          'Works' means motion pictures, video, television, interactive or
     multi-media programming, audio-visual works, sound recordings, books and
     other literary or written material, any software, copyright or other
     intellectual property related thereto, acquired directly or indirectly
     after the date of the Indenture by purchase, business combination,
     production, creation or otherwise, any component of the foregoing or rights
     with respect thereto, and all improvements thereon, products and proceeds
     thereof and revenues derived therefrom.
 
DEFEASANCE
 
     The Indenture provides that the Issuer (and to the extent applicable, TWC
and TBS), 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 covenants described
above under 'Certain Covenants' and any other restrictive covenants 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
Issuer 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 Issuer 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
 
                                       11
 





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, as amended. In addition, the Issuer is required
to deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that such deposit was
not made by the Issuer with the intent of preferring the Holders over other
creditors of the Issuer or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or
defrauding creditors of the Issuer or others. (Article IV)
 
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 5.02)
 
     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 Issuer (or TWC or TBS, if applicable) 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 pertaining 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 Issuer, TWC or TBS in excess of $50 million, if such
indebtedness is not discharged, or such acceleration is not annulled, within 60
days after written notice; (v) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency and
reorganization with respect to the Issuer or any Material Subsidiary thereof
which is organized under the laws of the United States or any political
sub-division thereof and (vi) any Guarantee, ceasing to be, or asserted by any
Guarantor as not being, in full force and effect, enforceable according to its
terms, except to the extent contemplated by the Indenture. (Section 5.01)
 
     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 6.02)
 
     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 6.03)
 
     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, subject to certain conditions. (Section 5.12)
 
     The Indenture includes a covenant that the Issuer will file annually with
the Trustee a certificate of no default or specifying any default that exists.
(Section 10.04)
 
                                       12
 





     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 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 5.13)
 
MODIFICATION OF THE INDENTURE
 
     The Issuer 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 Issuer, TWC or TBS, and the assumption by such successor
of the Issuer's, TWC's or TBS's obligations under the Indenture and the Debt
Securities of any series or the Guarantees relating thereto; (ii) to add
covenants of the Issuer, TWC or TBS, or surrender any rights of the Issuer, TWC
or TBS, for the benefit of the Holders of Debt 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 Debt 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 Debt Securities; and (vi) to
provide any additional Events of Default. (Section 9.01)
 
     The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Issuer and the Trustee
thereunder, with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of
the outstanding Debt Securities of all series to be affected voting as a single
class, 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 any
common stock or other securities to be delivered by the Issuer in respect of a
conversion of any convertible Debt Securities, or amend or modify the terms of
either Guarantee in a manner adverse to the Holders 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 9.02)
 
THE TRUSTEE
 
     The Chase Manhattan 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 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.
 
                               GLOBAL SECURITIES
 
     The Debt Securities 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 Debt 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.
 
                                       13
 





     The specific terms of the depository arrangement with respect to a series
of Debt Securities will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to
such series. Unless otherwise specified in the Prospectus Supplement, the Issuer
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 Debt 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 Debt
Securities or by the Issuer if such Debt Securities are offered and sold
directly by the Issuer. 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 Debt
Securities represented by such Global Security for all purposes under the
Indenture. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in a Global
Security will not be entitled to have any of the individual Debt 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 Debt
Securities of such series in definitive form and will not be considered the
owners or holders thereof under the Indenture. 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. The Issuer understands
that under existing industry practices, if the Issuer 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, the Depository for such Global Security would authorize 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
Debt 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
Debt Securities. None of the Issuer, the Trustee, any paying agent or the
registrar for such Debt 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 Debt Securities or for
maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial
ownership interests.
 
     The Issuer expects that the Depository for a series of Debt 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 Debt 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 Debt Securities as shown on the records of such
Depository or its nominee. The Issuer 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 Debt Securities is at any time unwilling,
unable or ineligible to continue as depository and a successor depository is not
appointed by the Issuer within 90 days, the
 
                                       14
 





Issuer will issue individual Debt Securities of such series in exchange for the
Global Security representing such series of Debt Securities. In addition, the
Issuer may, at any time and in its sole discretion, subject to any limitations
described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Debt Securities,
determine not to have any Debt Securities of such series represented by one or
more Global Securities and, in such event, will issue individual Debt Securities
of such series in exchange for the Global Security or Securities representing
such series of Debt Securities. Individual Debt Securities of such series so
issued will be issued in denominations, unless otherwise specified by the
Issuer, of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof. Any Debt 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. 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
 
     Each of the Issuer, TWC and TBS is a holding company, the assets of which
consist primarily of investments in its  consolidated and
unconsolidated subsidiaries. The assets of the Issuer consist primarily of its
investment in TWC and TBS. The assets of TWC consist primarily of its
investments in its consolidated and unconsolidated subsidiaries, including TWE.
Although the assets of TBS consist primarily of investments in its consolidated
and unconsolidated subsidiaries, TBS also directly owns certain assets that are
used in the operation of WTBS, a television station in Atlanta, Georgia and TBS,
a copyright-paid cable programming service and certain retail stores that
together represent less than 5% of the consolidated assets of TBS at December
31, 1996. A substantial portion of the consolidated liabilities of the Issuer,
TWC and TBS have been incurred by subsidiaries. TWE, which is not consolidated
with either the Issuer or TWC for financial reporting purposes, also has
substantial indebtedness and other liabilities. The rights of the Issuer and the
Guarantors and the rights of their creditors, including Holders of Debt
Securities, to participate in the distribution of assets of any person in which
the Issuer or the Guarantors 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 Issuer or the Guarantors may be a creditor with recognized
claims against such person (in which case the claims of the Issuer and the
Guarantors 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 Issuer or the Guarantors). Accordingly, the Holders of Debt
Securities may be deemed to be effectively subordinated to such claims.
 
     The ability of the Issuer and the Guarantors  to service their respective
indebtedness and other obligations, including the Debt Securities and the
Guarantees,  and the ability of each of them to pay dividends on
its common and/or preferred stock is dependent primarily upon the earnings and
cash flow of their respective consolidated and unconsolidated subsidiaries and
the distribution or other payment to them of such earnings and cash flow. The
TWE Agreement of Limited Partnership and its bank credit facilities limit
distributions and other transfers of funds to the Issuer and TWC.
 
     Additional information concerning the indebtedness of the Issuer, TWC and
TBS and their subsidiaries will be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement.
 
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
     The Issuer may sell the Debt Securities to one or more underwriters or
dealers for public offering and sale by them or may sell the Debt Securities to
investors directly or through agents. The Prospectus Supplement with respect to
the Debt Securities offered thereby describes the terms of the offering of such
Debt Securities and the method of distribution of the Debt Securities offered
thereby and identifies any firms acting as underwriters, dealers or agents in
connection therewith.
 
     The Debt 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 Debt Securities, underwriters, dealers or agents may be deemed to
have received compensation from the Issuer in the form of underwriting discounts
or commissions and may also receive commissions from purchasers of the Debt
Securities for whom they
 
                                       15
 





may act as agent. Underwriters may sell the Debt 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 Debt Securities may engage
in other transactions with, and perform other services for, the Issuer, TWC and
TBS in the ordinary course of business.
 
     Any underwriting compensation paid by the Issuer to underwriters or agents
in connection with the offering of the Debt 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 Debt 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 Debt 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 Issuer, to indemnification against and contribution toward certain civil
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
 
                                 LEGAL OPINIONS
 
     Certain legal matters in connection with the Debt Securities will be passed
upon for the Issuer, TWC and TBS 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 and schedules of the Issuer and TWE
appearing in the Issuer's 1996 Form 10-K 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 included therein and incorporated herein by reference. Such
financial statements and schedules are incorporated herein by reference in
reliance upon such reports given upon the authority of such firm as experts in
accounting and auditing.
 
     The consolidated financial statements of Cablevision Industries Corporation
at December 31, 1995, and for the year then ended, incorporated by reference in
this Prospectus from the Issuer's Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 13,
1997, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors, as set forth
in their report thereon included therein and incorporated herein by reference.
Such financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon
such reports given upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and
auditing.
 
     The consolidated financial statements of Cablevision Industries Corporation
as of December 31, 1994, and for each of the two years in the period ended
December 31, 1994, incorporated by reference in this Prospectus from the
Issuer's Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 13, 1997, have been audited
by Arthur Andersen LLP, Independent Public Accountants, as set forth in their
report thereon included therein and incorporated herein by reference. Such
consolidated financial statements have been incorporated herein by reference in
reliance upon such report given 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 each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1994,
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus from the Issuer's 1996 Form 10-K,
and the consolidated financial statements of TBS, as of December 31, 1994 and
1995, and for the three years in the period ended December 31, 1995,
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus from the Issuer's Current Report on
Form 8-K dated November 13, 1997, have been audited by Price Waterhouse LLP,
Independent Accountants, as set forth in their reports thereon included therein
and incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements are incorporated
herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given upon the authority of
such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
 
     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
 
                                       16
 





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 Issuer, TWC or TBS 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 Debt Securities
offered hereby shall, under any circumstances, create an implication that there
has been no change in the affairs of the Issuer, TWC or TBS 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 Debt Securities offered
hereby in any State to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or
solicitation in such State.
 
                                       17






                                    PART II
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
 
     The following statement sets forth the estimated amounts of expenses, other
than underwriting, discounts, to be borne by the registrants in connection with
the distribution of the Debt Securities and the Guarantees.
 

                                                                                
Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee.............................   $  295,000
Trustee's fees..................................................................       40,000
Printing and engraving expenses.................................................      200,000
Rating agency fees..............................................................      500,000
Accounting fees and expenses....................................................      100,000
Legal fees and expenses.........................................................      250,000
Miscellaneous expenses..........................................................       15,000
Total expenses..................................................................   $1,400,000

 
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
 
     The Issuer and TWC
 
     Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation law (the 'DGCL') provides
that a corporation may indemnify directors and officers as well as other
employees and individuals against expenses (including attorneys' fees),
judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement in connection with specified
actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation -- a
'derivative action'), if they acted in good faith and in a manner they
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceedings, had no
reasonable cause to believe their conduct was unlawful. A similar standard is
applicable in the case of derivative actions, except that indemnification only
extends to expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred
in connection with the defense or settlement of such action, and the statute
requires court approval before there can be any indemnification where the person
seeking indemnification has been found liable to the corporation. The statute
provides that it is not exclusive of other indemnification that may be granted
by a corporation's charter, by-laws, disinterested director vote, stockholder
vote, agreement or otherwise.
 
     Each of the Issuer's and TWC's By-laws require indemnification to the
fullest extent permitted under Delaware law of any person who is or was a
director or officer of the Issuer who is or was involved or threatened to be
made so involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether criminal, civil,
administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is or
was serving as a director, officer or employee of the Issuer or TWC or any
predecessor of the Issuer or TWC or was serving at the request of the Issuer or
TWC as a director, officer or employee of any other enterprise.
 
     Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL permits a provision in the certificate of
incorporation of each corporation organized thereunder, such as the Issuer and
TWC, eliminating or limiting, with certain exceptions, the personal liability of
a director to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for
breach of fiduciary duty as a director. Section 1, Article X of the Issuer's and
Article VIII of TWC's Restated Certificate of Incorporation eliminates the
liability of directors to the extent permitted by Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL.
 
     The foregoing statements are subject to the detailed provisions of Sections
145 and 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, the Issuer's and TWC's By-laws and Section 1,
Article X of the Issuer's and Article VIII of TWC's Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, as applicable.
 
     The Directors' and Officers' Liability and Reimbursement Insurance Policy
of the Issuer is designed to reimburse each of the registrants for any payments
made by each pursuant to the foregoing indemnification. The policy has coverage
of $50,000,000.
 
                                      II-1
 





     TBS
 
     TBS's By-laws provide for indemnification of directors and officers of TBS
against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines, settlements and
other amounts actually incurred in connection with any proceeding arising by
reason of the fact that such person is or was an officer or director of TBS.
 
     TBS's By-laws provide for indemnification of directors and officers of TBS
in connection with or resulting from any threatened, pending or completed
action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative, in which he or she may become involved by reason of his or her
being or having been a director or officer, or by reason of any action taken or
not taken in his or her capacity as such director or officer or as a member of
any committee appointed by the Board of Directors of TBS to act for, in the
interest of, or on behalf of TBS provided such person acted in good faith and in
a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of TBS and, in addition, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, did not have reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was
unlawful.
 
     Indemnification is mandatory in the case of a director or officer who is
wholly successful on the merits or otherwise with respect to any claim, action,
suit or proceeding of the character described above. In other cases, the
determination whether to indemnify a director or officer is made by a majority
of disinterested directors, a majority of disinterested shareholders, or
independent legal counsel selected by any Judge of the United States District
Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, at the request of
either TBS or the person seeking indemnification.
 
     TBS's Articles of Incorporation provide that a director of the Company will
not be personally liable to TBS or its shareholders for monetary damages for
breach of duty of care or other duty as a director, except for liability (i) for
any appropriation, in violation of the director's duties, of any business
opportunity of the Company, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or
which involve intentional misconduct or knowing violation of law, (iii) for
making a distribution in violation of Section 14-2-831 of the Georgia Business
Corporation Code or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an
improper personal benefit.
 
     TBS has insurance to indemnify its directors and officers, subject to the
limits contained in those policies, from those liabilities in respect of which
such indemnification insurance is permitted under the laws of the State of
Georgia.
 
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS
 

       
 1       --  Proposed form of Underwriting Agreement.**
 4.1     --  Proposed form of Indenture between the Issuer and The Chase Manhattan Bank as Trustee**
 5       --  Opinion of Cravath, Swaine & Moore.**
12       --  Statement regarding the computation of the ratio of earnings to fixed charges of the Issuer.**
12.1     --  Statement regarding the computation of the ratio of earnings to fixed charges of TWC.**
12.2     --  Statement regarding the computation of the ratio of earnings to fixed charges of TBS.**
23.1     --  Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors.**
23.2     --  Consent of Counsel (included in Exhibit 5).
23.3     --  Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, Independent Public Accountants.**
23.4     --  Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP, Independent Accountants.**
23.5     --  Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP, Independent Accountants.**
24.1     --  Power of Attorney of the Issuer.**
24.2     --  Power of Attorney of TWC.**
24.3     --  Power of Attorney of TBS.**
25       --  Statement of Eligibility and Qualification on Form T-1 of The Chase Manhattan Bank with respect to the
             Issuer, TWC and TBS.**

 
- ------------
 
 * Incorporated by reference.
 
** Filed herewith.
 
                                      II-2
 





ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS
 
A. UNDERTAKINGS PURSUANT TO RULE 415
 
     The undersigned registrants hereby undertake:
 
          (a) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
     made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
 
             (i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
        Securities Act;
 
             (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
        the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent
        post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
        aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
        in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any
        increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total
        dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was
        registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated
        maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed
        with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the
        changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the
        maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the 'Calculation of
        Registration Fee' table in the effective registration statement; and
 
             (iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan
        of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement
        or any material change to such information in the Registration
        Statement;
 
     provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(i) and (a)(ii) do not apply if the
     information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
     paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrants
     pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are
     incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement;
 
          (b) that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
     Securities Act, each post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
     Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
     offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
     bona fide offering thereof; and
 
          (c) to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
     any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
     termination of the offering.
 
B. UNDERTAKING REGARDING FILINGS INCORPORATING SUBSEQUENT EXCHANGE ACT DOCUMENTS
BY REFERENCE
 
     The undersigned registrants hereby undertake that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of any of the
registrants' annual reports pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
C. UNDERTAKING IN RESPECT OF INDEMNIFICATION
 
     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
registrants pursuant to the provisions described in Item 15 above, or otherwise,
the registrants have been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and
is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrants of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrants
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
officer, director or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrants will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the
matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether or not such indemnification by
it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be
governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
 
                                      II-3






                                   SIGNATURES
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on January 14, 1998.
 
                                          TIME WARNER INC.
 
                                          By:         /s/ JOHN A. LABARCA
                                               .................................
                                            NAME: JOHN A. LABARCA
                                            TITLE: SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND
                                              CONTROLLER
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this Registration Statement has been signed below on January 14, 1998 by the
following persons in the capacities indicated.
 


                SIGNATURES                                                  TITLE
- ------------------------------------------  ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                         
                    *                       (i) Director, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
 .........................................
            (GERALD M. LEVIN)
 
                    *                       (ii) Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 .........................................
          (RICHARD J. BRESSLER)
 
          /s/ JOHN A. LABARCA               (iii) Senior Vice President and Controller
 .........................................
            (JOHN A. LABARCA)
 
                    *                       (iv) Directors
 .........................................
              (MERV ADELSON)
 
                    *
 .........................................
            (J. CARTER BACOT)
 
                    *
 .........................................
         (STEPHEN F. BOLLENBACH)
 
                    *
 .........................................
        (BEVERLY SILLS GREENOUGH)
 
                    *
 .........................................
            (GERALD GREENWALD)
 
                    *
 .........................................
             (CARLA A. HILLS)
 
                    *
 .........................................
              (REUBEN MARK)
 
                    *
 .........................................
            (MICHAEL A. MILES)
 
                    *
 .........................................
           (RICHARD D. PARSONS)

 
                                      II-4
 






                                         
                    *
 .........................................
           (DONALD S. PERKINS)
 
                    *
 .........................................
           (RAYMOND S. TROUBH)
 
                    *
 .........................................
              (R. E. TURNER)
 
                    *
 .........................................
        (FRANCIS T. VINCENT, JR.)
 
      *By:      /s/ JOHN A. LABARCA
 .........................................
            (ATTORNEY-IN-FACT)

 
                                      II-5
 





                                   SIGNATURES
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on January 14, 1998.
 
                                          TIME WARNER COMPANIES, INC.
 
                                          By:         /s/ JOHN A. LABARCA
                                               .................................
                                            NAME: JOHN A. LABARCA
                                            TITLE: SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND
                                              CONTROLLER
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this Registration Statement has been signed below on January 14, 1998 by the
following persons in the capacities indicated.
 


                SIGNATURES                                                  TITLE
- ------------------------------------------  ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                         
                    *                       (i) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
 .........................................
            (GERALD M. LEVIN)
 
                    *                       (ii) Director, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 .........................................
          (RICHARD J. BRESSLER)
 
          /s/ JOHN A. LABARCA               (iii) Senior Vice President and Controller
 .........................................
            (JOHN A. LABARCA)
 
                    *                       (iv) Directors
 .........................................
             (PETER R. HAJE)
 
                    *
 .........................................
           (RICHARD D. PARSONS)
 
      *By:      /s/ JOHN A. LABARCA
 .........................................
            (ATTORNEY-IN-FACT)

 
                                      II-6
 





                                   SIGNATURES
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on January 14, 1998.
 
                                          TURNER BROADCASTING SYSTEM, INC.
 
                                          By:          /s/ PETER R. HAJE
                                               .................................
                                            NAME: PETER R. HAJE
                                            TITLE: VICE PRESIDENT
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this Registration Statement has been signed below on January 14, 1998 by the
following persons in the capacities indicated.
 


                SIGNATURES                                                  TITLE
- ------------------------------------------  ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                         
                    *                       (i) President and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
 .........................................
           (TERENCE F. MCGUIRK)
 
                    *                       (ii) Executive Vice President, Chief Financial and Administrative
 .........................................       Officer
             (WAYNE H. PACE)
 
                    *                       (iii) Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer
 .........................................
            (LANDEL C. HOBBS)
 
                    *                       (iv) Directors
 .........................................
              (R. E. TURNER)
 
                    *
 .........................................
           (W. THOMAS JOHNSON)
 
                    *
 .........................................
           (RICHARD D. PARSONS)
 
                    *
 .........................................
              (ROBERT SHAYE)
 
                    *
 .........................................
           (JEFFREY L. BEWKES)
 
                    *
 .........................................
            (GERALD M. LEVIN)
 
      *By:        /s/ PETER R. HAJE
 ........................................
           (ATTORNEY-IN-FACT)

 
                                      II-7










                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 


EXHIBIT
NUMBER                                         DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT                                          PAGE
- ------   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   ----
 
                                                                                                          
  1      -- Proposed form of Underwriting Agreement.**.......................................................
  4.1    -- Proposed form of Indenture between the Issuer and The Chase Manhattan Bank as Trustee**..........
  5      -- Opinion of Cravath, Swaine & Moore**.............................................................
 12      -- Statement regarding the computation of the ratio of earnings to fixed charges of the Issuer**....
 12.1    -- Statement regarding the computation of the ratio of earnings to fixed charges of TWC**...........
 12.2    -- Statement regarding the computation of the ratio of earnings to fixed charges of TBS**...........
 23.1    -- Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors**.............................................
 23.2    -- Consent of Counsel (included in Exhibit 5).......................................................
 23.3    -- Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, Independent Public Accountants**.................................
 23.4    -- Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP, Independent Accountants**.......................................
 23.5    -- Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP, Independent Accountants**.......................................
 24.1    -- Power of Attorney of the Issuer**................................................................
 24.2    -- Power of Attorney of TWC**.......................................................................
 24.3    -- Power of Attorney of TBS**.......................................................................
 25      -- Statement of Eligibility and Qualification on Form T-1 of The Chase Manhattan Bank with respect
           to the Issuer, TWC and TBS**......................................................................

 
- ------------
 
 * Incorporated by reference.
 
** Filed herewith.

                       STATEMENT OF DIFFERENCES

       The section symbol shall be expressed as .............'SS'