The Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday gave Comcast Corp., the country’s largest cable company, the green light to take over NBC Universal, home of the NBC television network.
Four of the commission’s five members voted to let Comcast buy a 51 percent stake in NBC Universal from General Electric Co. for $13.8 billion in cash and assets. Michael Copps, one of the commission’s three Democrats and an opponent of media consolidation, voted against the deal.
The deal was still awaiting Justice Department approval, which was expected later Tuesday.
With the transaction certain to transform the entertainment industry landscape, regulators are attaching conditions to prevent Comcast from trampling competitors once it takes control of NBC’s vast media empire.
Among other things, the FCC is requiring Comcast to make NBC programming available to competitors including rival cable companies, satellite operators and new Internet video services that could pose a threat to Comcast’s core cable business. Regulators want to ensure that emerging online video platforms being developed by companies such as Netflix Inc., Amazon.com Inc. and Apple Inc. can get the movies and shows they need to grow — and potentially offer a cheaper alternative to monthly cable subscriptions.
Philadelphia-based Comcast has about 23 million cable TV subscribers and nearly 17 million Internet subscribers. It also owns a handful of cable channels, including E! Entertainment and the Golf Channel, and has a controlling interest in the Philadelphia 76ers and Flyers sports teams. Comcast’s SportsNet Philadelphia channel carries Flyers, Phillies and 76ers games.
Taking over NBC will transform the company into a media powerhouse. NBC Universal owns the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks; 26 local TV stations; popular cable channels including CNBC, Bravo and Oxygen; the Universal Pictures movie studio and theme parks; and a roughly 30 stake in Hulu.com, which distributes NBC and other broadcast programming online.
don’t you mean Kabletown?
That’s IT! MONOPOLY! Comcast to break up NOW! Write to your congressman, The President and demand to break-up Comcast NOW! DO IT!
whats with all the off site linking C.B.N ? and yes Comcast is a monopoly poor service over priced.
And media consolidation continues unabated. Doesn’t matter who’s in charge. The United States of Corporations have bought off both parties. Too bad its “we the people” who suffer.
Hey, its the free market. Galt would love it. Deal with it folks. I am sure Caribou Barbie is supporting this decision.
“well said Neal” “snitramc” only to the rich elite, you know the saying you got to have money to make money, you wouldn’t be the CEO of comcast would ?
I won’t have cable TV in my house due to how horrible Comcast’s “customer service” is. I thought the Govt had regulations to prevent monopolies such as what Comcast is trying to become.
Comcast better not get to mess with NBC’s over the air channels.
Hey folks…I got off the Comcast. It was hard, but I beat it. I sucked it up and got AT&T for internet/phone and DirecTV for TV. Yes, my Youtube vids don’t seem to stream as good as they did before and I don’t have 5 versions of the same channel on the TV. But I am surviving. My bill is about $60 cheaper per month. Comcast is the devil and they know it. This is a very bad merger for everyone except Comcast. Expect them to jack up your bill every 6 months until your are like me. A former Comcast user. Just say no to Comcast. You can do it.