Posted on 01/22/2011 11:34:42 AM PST by lbryce
NBC Universal was approved by the Federal Communications Commission and the Justice Department on Tuesday, smoothing the way for the deal to close by the end of January.
As expected, the approvals came with significant conditions attached. The combination of Comcast’s cable systems and NBC Universal’s channels will create a media powerhouse, and it will represent the first time that a cable company will control a major broadcast network.
“This is a proud and exciting day for Comcast,” Brian L. Roberts, the Comcast chief executive, said in a statement that thanked the government agencies for their hard work.
The approval has been expected for at least the last few weeks. It has been the subject of intense lobbying both by Comcast and by opponents of the deal, who fear that Comcast will restrict access to NBC programming. Comcast says the deal will help achieve its vision of anytime, anywhere access to content.
As is normal in media mergers, the F.C.C. imposed a long list of conditions on the deal. They were outlined in an F.C.C. news release on Tuesday. The conditions are intended to ensure that Comcast plays fair when dealing with rival programmers, cable providers and broadband Internet providers. Many of the conditions are intended to remain in place for seven years, an unusually long period of time.
(Excerpt) Read more at mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com ...
Also, Karma is a bitch.
This is a wonderful day. I have full faith that MSNBC/NBC will now start telling the truth, instead of sticking to their hate conservative/love socialism meme.
/sarc
I doubt it was ideological. My guess is that Olbermann made more money than was rolling in from commercials run during his program. MSNBC is being sold, probably because it loses money. What better place to cut than the highest paid guy on the network?
I will never forget the vituperative vehemence, rage in which this gnat of a human being looked straight into the camera, shouting; Mr.President,(George W. Bush) You Are A Liar! and went on foaming at the mouth, his head seemed about to explode.
Salary caps?
Seeing Olberman get the boot almost gives me a tingle down the leg.
Comcast will make available to approximately2.5 million low income households: (i) high-speed Internet access service for less than $10 per month; (ii) personal computers, netbooks, or other computer equipment at a purchaseprice below $150; and (iii) an array of digital-literacy education opportunities. Comcast willalso expand its existing broadband networks to reach approximately 400,000 additional homes, provide broadband Internet access service in six additional rural communities, andprovide free video and high-speed Internet service to 600 new anchor institutions, such as schools and libraries, in underserved, low-income areas
I'm not a Comcast customer, I understand they're quite anti-consumer, especially in regards to internet downloads but I haven't read anything negative about them lately.
Nevertheless, I welcome a broadcast giant as they are with political leanings I can appreciate, firing Olbermann like he was being thrown out of a speeding car is the sort of gift that might not ever come again. :-)
Will you feel the same way if COMCAST starts censoring FOX and telling them to fire Glenn Beck because he violates COMCAST’s idea of political fairness?
Comcast didn’t purchase Fox, it purchased NBC.
- JP
Comcast is the largest cable provider in the country. FOX is a cable station dependent on cable providers. Don’t be obtuse.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.